Latest news with #tourismTax
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Dublin considers introducing tourism tax
Dublin is considering introducing a tourism tax that could bring in 'significant' funding. At a press conference on Tuesday, Michael Martin, the head of the Irish government, said he was backing the proposal made by the Dublin City Taskforce, which said last year that the city has become 'less welcoming' since the financial crash. 'It could provide additional revenue raising powers, so that will be examined. Because, let's be honest, there's going to be significant investment here', the Taoiseach said. He added that the actual amount of money expected to be brought in varied widely, depending on the rate applied if the tourism tax comes to pass. 'It will be examined in more detail. Estimates varies between depending on rate of fee applied, it would range from four million to 41 million.' But Martin claimed that no matter what rate the city lands on, 'there's going to be significant additional expenditure to make the city more attractive.' Dublin is already considered one of the most expensive cities in Europe for eating and drinking, and there are fears that the proposed tax will further burden tourists visiting the already expensive city. Simon Harris, the deputy leader of the Irish government, said that the plans were far from set in stone, and that Dublin City Council will have a significant role to play in deciding whether to implement it. He said: 'Fundamentally, I believe, massively in local government, empowering councillors and providing revenue streams, there needs to be a sensitivity around the timing.' Cities across Europe are beginning to place daily taxes on visitors. Rates vary from just a few cents per day to up to €7 per day in places like Rome. In the UK, Manchester is the first and currently only British city to charge a tourist levy, requiring visitors to pay £1 per day in hotels or rented flats in the centre of the city. However, from July 2026 Edinburgh is set to apply a 5% fee to the cost of overnight accommodation, capping the levy at five nights in a row. Harris said that on top of the possible tourism levy, the government had added more than 1,000 police officers to the centre of Dublin in response to 'increased concerns about safety.' The announcement of the tourism tax comes just a month after one of Dublin's most famous watering holes was slammed for selling ludicrously expensive drinks. A photograph of a receipt shared to social media revealed that one patron of the world famous Temple Bar had paid an eye-watering €15.40 (12.99) for just one pint of Guinness and a shot of Baby Guinness. The Irish pub, which is located in Dublin's city centre and highly popular among tourists, is renowned for it's premium prices, with customers having long lamented the cost of it's drinks. The expensive tab was shared to X from an account called @PintsO_Guinness, which shares posts relating to Ireland's iconic stout. The account's description reads: 'Capturing the perfect pints & sharing the magic.' It revealed that the unknown customer had visited on 29 May at 9:46pm and paid a whopping €10.45 (8.82) for one pint of Guinness, and €4.95 (£4.18) for 'mixer/ baby', believed to be a Baby Guinness. Captioning the post, the Guinness fan page simply wrote 'Christ'. The post has since gone viral, gathering nearly 50,000 views and dozens of commenters from frustrated boozers complaining about the extortionate price tags. Writing on X, one said '£8.50 for a pint, ouch', while multiple called out the venue for creating 'outrageous' prices. One Dublin local described the prices as 'bare faced robbery' and griped that the venue was often 'absolutely rammed'. They wrote: 'I live five minute walk away from Temple Bar, born and reared in the area and in my 40 years of being of drinking age I can count on one hand how many times I've had a session in Temple Bar, you just can't do it, it's bare face robbery and it's going on years too. 'Also the place is absolutely rammed full of tourists so much so they have to drink out on the streets as the pubs are so full.'
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Tourism tax could help fund ‘significant' revitalisation of Dublin
A tourism tax could help bring in 'significant' funding for a plan to 'revitalise' Dublin city, the Taoiseach said. The Dublin City Taskforce report, published in October 2024, said Dublin has become 'less welcoming' since the financial crash and pandemic and makes recommendations on how to revive it. Advertisement At a press conference on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney confirmed the Government's backing for the Capital City Report of the Dublin City Taskforce. A roadmap for delivery of the Dublin City Taskforce Report was also published on Tuesday. 'Our capital city does undoubtedly have a lot to offer,' Micheal Martin said. While the city is viewed positively by some, Mr Martin acknowledged there have been 'increased concerns about safety, cleanliness, reduced footfall and changing attitudes to shopping and socialising'. Advertisement He said the redevelopment of the GPO as 'a world-class and historic flagship project', with a 'significant' cultural element, supported by retail and office parts, was among the recommendations to revitalise Dublin. Mr Martin said that a tourism tax will be examined to help fund the 'significant' expenditure needed to make the city more enticing. 'It could provide additional revenue raising powers, so that will be examined. Because, let's be honest, there's going to be significant investment here. 'There's going to be significant additional expenditure to make the city more attractive. Advertisement 'It will be examined in more detail. Estimates varies between depending on rate of fee applied, it would range from four million to 41 million.' The Tanaiste added: 'There can be significant benefit in a tourist tax if done in the correct way. 'Many, many European capital cities have it, but of course, you want to get the timing right, you want to, obviously consult. 'You want to do the work the Taoiseach has outlined.' Advertisement He said it would also be about 'empowering' Dublin City Council to decide whether it needed an additional revenue stream. 'The idea that people who visit our city would make a small contribution, they would go back into the city council coffers to help them deliver some of the projects. 'So fundamentally, I believe, massively in local government, empowering councillors and providing revenue streams, there needs to be a sensitivity around the timing.' Business Majority of tourism businesses 'seriously concerne... Read More The report of the Dublin City Taskforce said there are a number of funding mechanisms that could be leveraged to support implementation of its revitalisation plan. Advertisement 'These include state level supports through funds like the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), European level supports through the European Investment Bank (EIB), public/private partnerships and the introduction or enforcement of levies such as a tourist tax, congestion charges, increased vacant property levies or a lifting of the derogation for rates on State buildings. 'Any decision on fundraising is a matter for government and is outside the remit of the taskforce.'
