| Re: Room tax? Proposed by the new government plans Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:47, 3rd August 2026 |     |
I have voted, thinking about Edinburgh in particular (where I have stayed in hotels many times there, years ago).
I don't think there should be another 'hotel room tax', as it would only serve to reduce the attractiveness of such a tourist venue. They already have to pay substantial amounts of business tax, after all.
Those peripheral benefits of discounts on various tourist attractions would be irrelevant to me: I was there for an overnight stay to attend two-day business meetings.
CfN.
| Re: Room tax? Proposed by the new government plans Posted by grahame at 15:41, 3rd August 2026 | |
I have voted - in favour - in my own poll. I would prefer there not to be a "hotel room tax" - however, it makes sense to help the local authorities pay for the extra support needed by all the extra people around from things as basic as clearing the litter bins and providing more road crossings for the crowds in the town.
In some towns such as Rostock and Zittau, the room tax also brings you things like a pass to use on local public transport or a discount at local attractions. And, yes, used in Rostock to catch the bus without having to work out how to buy a ticket.
| Re: Room tax? Proposed by the new government plans Posted by ChrisB at 15:38, 3rd August 2026 | |
Looks like it - although at least Scotland already have this - Edinburgh has already implemented it for this summer's trade.
Maybe what's intended is that this tax is levied by mayors, not Government, and mayors get to spend it.
| Room tax? Proposed by the new government plans Posted by grahame at 15:34, 3rd August 2026 | |
From Sky News
Staycations to cost £100 more under government plans, Britons warned
Families face paying an extra £100 to holiday in the UK under government plans to introduce a new tax, a trade body has warned.
Ministers have set out plans to allow mayors and other local leaders in England to introduce an "overnight visitor levy" from next April.
Concerns have been raised this could cause 33,000 job losses and for the price of holidaying in the UK to rise. UK Hospitality, which represents the industry, has written to the government, expressing its concerns about the plans and suggesting an alternative "Holiday Bonus" scheme that would reward local authorities with fixed revenue per visitor's night. It claims the idea would incentivise tourism, support hospitality and drive economic growth.
Families face paying an extra £100 to holiday in the UK under government plans to introduce a new tax, a trade body has warned.
Ministers have set out plans to allow mayors and other local leaders in England to introduce an "overnight visitor levy" from next April.
Concerns have been raised this could cause 33,000 job losses and for the price of holidaying in the UK to rise. UK Hospitality, which represents the industry, has written to the government, expressing its concerns about the plans and suggesting an alternative "Holiday Bonus" scheme that would reward local authorities with fixed revenue per visitor's night. It claims the idea would incentivise tourism, support hospitality and drive economic growth.
That refers to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rewiring-the-state-cabinet-statement/rewiring-the-state-cabinet-statement-html which includes a very long and potentially very plan setting agenda. Deep in it
We will also give all strategic authorities the ability to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy, with local leaders able to set out plans for how revenues will be invested by March 2028.
In our travels over this spring / summer, we have become very used to paying a handful of Euros or other local currency per person per night as a local room tax - is this what the proposal is suggesting for the UK?
