'Cities are being short changed': Council leader urges government for a tourism tax in Bath
Councillors at Bath and North East Somerset Council voted in favour of being able to introduce a tourism tax during a meeting on 17 July.
The vote was in support of the principle of a tax, not on actually introducing one or how it would work.
But what is a tourism tax and why is it being voted on?
What is a tourism tax?
A tourism tax is a levy on short-stay accommodation in a local authority area.
Also known as a 'transient visitor levy', a tax of this kind gives local councils the chance to charge people visiting the area.
The tax has been introduced in cities with significant tourism economies across the world including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Vancouver.
It's usually charge per occupied bed or room per night which can change depending on the accommodation providers and time of year.
What are councillors in Bath and North East Somerset voting on?
Councils in England do not yet have the power to introduce such a measure but authorities in Scotland do after the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 was passed last year.
Bath and North East Somerset Council leader, Kevin Guy, has written to local government secretary Angela Rayner urging the government to give England's historic cities the same power.
Mr Guy (Bathavon North, Liberal Democrat) said in a council meeting: 'We are not acting along and all we are doing is asking is for the government to give us a fair deal because, at the moment, English cities are being short changed.'
Bath has six million visitors per year, bringing in half a billion pounds in local economic benefit and supporting 8,000 jobs, proposer of the motion Michelle Doherty (Newbridge, Liberal Democrat) told the meeting.
She said: 'This motion is not about discouraging tourism.
'We really value our visitors and we want them to continue coming but like many European cities, we think visitors should make a small contribution towards the cost of keeping our city clean and safe and welcoming."
She added: 'This isn't about creating a new huge revenue stream — although a modest charge per night could bring in a couple of million pounds per year for the council which would make a real difference given the pressures on our budgets.'
How would a tourism tax work?
A tourism tax is expected to take the form of an additional charge on overnight stays paid by the visitor to the local council.
The letter from Mr Guy and the leader of Cambridge City Council to the government spoke of 'a tourist levy associated with overnight stays.'
The letter states: 'The revenue generated could be reinvested into the community, improving facilities and services for both residents and visitors.'
Mr Guy said: 'Any levy should apply fairly across all types of accommodation, including short-term lets such as Airbnb.'
Some supporters say it would help fund infrastructure and local services in tourist hotspots, including the upkeep of footpaths, public toilets, and waste collections.
Critics argue the charge could put visitors off and add pressure to businesses already dealing with costs and staffing challenges.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government said: "There are currently no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England.
"Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through working with their local tourism sector using the Accommodation Business Improvement District model."
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