Liverpool 'tourist tax' of £2 to be charged for overnight stays
People staying overnight in Liverpool will have to pay a "tourist tax" after hoteliers voted in favour of plans to introduce one.A ballot by Accommodation BID, which represents 83 hotels in the city, found that the majority supported the idea of a £2 City Visitor Charge.Accommodation BID, which also represents serviced apartment providers in Liverpool, thinks the levy will raise £9.2m over two years, of which £6.7m will go towards supporting the city's visitor economy.Liverpool BID Company, which manages Accommodation BID, said the levy would "turbo charge" the city's tourism and visitor economy when it comes into force in June.
The charge will be managed and administered by hotels and serviced accommodation providers, either when guests check in or at the end of their stay.Money raised under the scheme will be administered by Accommodation BID.Liverpool BID Company includes two business improvement districts in the city centre and represents more than 800 businesses in Liverpool.For an overnight visitor charge to be implemented in England, a clear and transparent business plan must be provided for how the money raised will be spent.Of the 83 hotels in Liverpool balloted about the visitor charge, 59% were in favour, on a turnout of 53%.
'Major investment'
Marcus Magee, chair of Liverpool's Accommodation BID, said the ballot was a "major step" in enabling the city's hospitality sector to have a say and an influence on decisions about the visitor economy.This, he said, was "crucial to the vibrancy and economy of the city".Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, said the £2 levy would help Liverpool attract bigger events which, in turn, would bring more visitors and money to the city."We have always said the industry should have their say on whether they want this levy to come in, as they are administering it," he said. "The evidence of other European cities suggests this model will translate overnight stays into major investment, so that we can convert that into world-leading and world-beating events."In April 2023, Manchester became the first city in the UK to introduce a "tourist tax".The City Visitor Charge - a £1 per room, per night fee - raised about £2.8m in its first year.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
13 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Holidaymakers swapping traditional European hotspots for north Africa
Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes. That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. The promenade at night in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Alamy/PA) EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tourists walking along a sandy beach in Cape Verde (Alamy/PA) Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. 'This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.'
North Wales Chronicle
22 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Holidaymakers swapping traditional European hotspots for north Africa
Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes. That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. 'This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.'
Powys County Times
24 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Holidaymakers swapping traditional European hotspots for north Africa
Thousands of UK holidaymakers are ditching traditional European hotspots in favour of north Africa, travel companies have reported. Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes. That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money.
