London weighs tourist levy but travellers unlikely to feel pinch

NEW PROPOSAL WOULD ADD A SMALL FEE TO VISITORS' OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAYS

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE

London is moving closer to introducing a tourist levy (often called a 'visitor tax') on people who stay overnight in the city - and UAE travellers should be aware of what this could mean for future trips.

The idea has been gaining momentum after the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, welcomed plans that would finally allow the city to introduce such a charge. Under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, mayors and local authorities in England may soon be given the power to add a small fee to hotel and short-stay bookings.

London has long been one of the world's most visited cities. In 2024 alone, visitors booked 89 million overnight stays. A small levy on those stays could generate up to £240 million a year, according to estimates cited in official briefings.