Latest news with #DebbieWalker
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Business News Wales
Welsh Visitor Levy 'Is Self-Defeating and Will Have Unintended Consequences'
Introducing a visitor levy in Wales will lead to unintended consequences including an increase in wild camping, the British Holiday & Home Parks Association is warning. It says it is 'gravely disappointed' by the decision of the Senedd to allow councils across Wales the choice to introduce a visitor levy on overnight stays. The association's director-general Debbie Walker says the new law will have many unintended consequences, and risks damaging rural and coastal economies throughout the country. She said that demanding a levy from adult visitors making overnight stays on campsites and parks in Wales will pose a threat to the futures of many of the businesses. The tax would also, said Debbie, have a knock-on effect on the many businesses which rely on the tourism industry such as pubs, shops, cafes and visitor attractions. Many of these, she points out, are smaller family-owned enterprises like holiday parks which sustain thousands of jobs in areas of Wales where few other employment opportunities exist. The levy is set at 75p per person per night for adults staying in hostels and campsites and at £1.30 per person per night for all visitors staying in other types of accommodation. Under 18s are exempt from paying the levy when staying in hostels or campsites. Debbie said that while tourism taxes may be a well-intentioned way to generate local revenues, they are 'self-defeating and pitted with unintended consequences'. 'One of these will inevitably be a rise in wild camping which will mean local councils having to deal with litter and human waste in parts of Wales's most beautiful countryside,' she said. 'A tourism tax will also place a huge administration burden on holiday parks, forcing them in some cases to raise prices in order to cover the costs of implementing the levy. 'But our main concern is that this is a tax on the traditional family holiday which many people already struggle to afford, but see as essential to their physical and mental wellbeing. 'Larger families with children will be especially hard hit, and are likely to make some parents think twice about enjoying a break in Wales and to seek out other UK destinations. 'The levy will also make the prospect of an overseas holiday even more appealing as many of our European competitors have VAT set at around half of our 20% rate.' BH&HPA says it will now initiate an 'urgent lobby' of councils in Wales. Local authorities can choose whether to introduce the levy in their area after consulting with their communities. Registration will start in autumn 2026 and the earliest a visitor levy can be introduced anywhere in Wales is April 2027.
Business News Wales
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Senedd Summit Hears How Holiday Parks Support the Tourism Economy
Senior politicians in Wales heard this week about the 'huge contribution' being made to the tourism economy and the wellbeing of communities by holiday parks. The message was delivered at a meeting at the Senedd in Cardiff, headed by Debbie Walker who is Director General of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association. Debbie met Sam Rowlands MS, Chair of the Tourism Cross Party Group, and Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. Also in attendance was the association's Director of Policy Katherine Squires, and Welsh BH&HPA director and park owner Dylan Roberts. The meeting was an opportunity to provide an update on the association's Parks Make Places campaign to highlight the positive grass-roots changes being made by parks in Wales. The delegation outlined the wide range of different community-led initiatives by parks which are improving the lives of people in the areas where they are based. They range from charity fundraising schemes and support for local foodbanks to beach clean-ups and other environmental projects which help safeguard wildlife and the natural world. 'This is on top of the massive economic boost provided to Wales coastal and rural communities by park visitors, supporting other businesses and the jobs they provide,' said Debbie. 'Parks become involved because they want to give something tangible back to their local areas, often where their families have had links that go back through successive generations. 'We were delighted to be able to take our campaign to the heart of Welsh government and for our voice to be heard by politicians who clearly understood our message.'
