Visitor levy Tories call for tourist tax plan to be scrapped

A PROPOSED tourist tax on overnight visitors to Bristol should be scrapped, Conservative councillors are demanding.

- Adam POSTANS

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the Budget in November that combined authority metro mayors in England would be given the power to charge a visitor levy on people staying in hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets and guesthouses.

West of England mayor Helen Godwin welcomed the announcement and is expected to introduce the fees if the changes come into force following 12 weeks of national consultation, which ends on February 18.

Tourist tax is commonplace in many cities around the world, including New York, Paris and Milan.

The amount visitors would have to pay has not been set but is expected to be £1 to £2 per night in line with a similar scheme already in place in Manchester and Liverpool, although the charge being introduced in parts of Scotland is five per cent, which at many Bristol and Bath prices would be significantly more.

The Liberal Democrats hailed the Government's announcement as a victory for its campaign for a levy, which could be invested in the West of England on transport, infrastructure and tourism.