Click here for all our analysis on the upcoming budget setting processes.

NEWS POLITICS

Have your say on a 'tourist tax' for Wales

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation today on proposals to give local authorities the powers to introduce a visitor levy.

2 years ago   2 minutes read    1,476 views

The image for Have your say on a 'tourist tax' for Wales
 
Share            Listen to the story

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation today on proposals to give local authorities the powers to introduce a visitor levy.

The levy would be a small charge paid by people staying overnight in accommodation in Wales.


  Other Trending Stories

Each local authority in Wales will have the power to decide if they want to introduce a visitor levy, and the money raised will be re-invested in local areas to support local tourism. This could be investment in keeping the beaches and pavements clean, through to maintaining local parks, toilets and footpaths.

More than 40 countries and holiday destinations around the world have introduced a form of visitor levy, including Greece, France, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and California. A discretionary visitor levy for local authorities in Wales would represent a very small proportion of a visitor’s overall spend.

The extensive consultation seeks views on who should pay a levy, who would be charging and collecting the levy, how the levy could be best applied and how revenues from the tax could be allocated.

The careful process of translating proposals for a visitor levy into legislation, and then into delivery and implementation will span a number of years and will be subject to approval by the Senedd.

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said:

“These proposals are about preparing for the future. Our intention is to bring about a sense of shared responsibility between residents and visitors, to protect, and invest in, our local areas. By asking visitors – whether they have travelled from within Wales or from further afield – to make a small contribution towards maintaining and enhancing the place they are visiting, we will encourage a more sustainable approach for tourism.”

Proposals for a visitor levy have been progressed through Welsh Government’s Co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru. Plaid Cymru Designated Member Cefin Campbell said:

“While Wales may be the first place in the UK to introduce such a levy, we do not believe it will be the last – as we have seen recently, a visitor levy may soon be introduced in Edinburgh so Wales is not alone.

“We want to continue to see a thriving tourism industry in Wales. It is vital we have sustainable, responsible tourism that works both for visitors and for the communities they are visiting. Should local authorities decide to implement a visitor levy, it could make a real difference in communities across Wales to help develop and protect local services and infrastructure. We welcome all views in understanding what would work well for Wales and encourage everyone to contribute to the consultation.”

 

You've viewed 1 stories so far!

All About Newtown is an independent not-for-profit online news and information service for the town of Newtown in Mid Wales. We provide ad-free content, so rely on reader subscriptions and donations to run.

  Donate via PayPal

Related or similar stories based on this one

Image for the article Help shape the future of council tax in Wales
Help shape the future of council tax in Wales

1 year ago

Image for the article Call to bring forward council tax shake-up rejected
Call to bring forward council tax shake-up rejected

5 months ago

Image for the article Homebuyers to benefit from new tax rules
Homebuyers to benefit from new tax rules

2 years ago

Business of the Week
23 Social

Broad Street

Follow us

Connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Google News

     

Trending
Church conversion plans approved

2 days ago

See what's on next week in our area (W52)

1 day ago

Merry Christmas from us all!

1 hour ago

Donate to us

We're a not-for-profit community interest company and have no corporate owners. We'd appreciate anything you can give to keep us providing free content.

  Donate via PayPal
Upcoming Events
Newtown AFC v Haverfordwest

26/12/24 02:30pm

Popup Coffee Morning

27/12/24 10:00am

New Year Celebration

31/12/24 07:00pm

Latest Stories
Merry Christmas from us all!

1 hour ago

See what's on next week in our area (W52)

1 day ago

Church conversion plans approved

2 days ago