Latest news with #touristtax
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Trade body wants Liverpool 'tourist tax' pause during appeal
A trade body which represents the hospitality industry said a so-called "tourist tax" on hotel guests in Liverpool should not be levied while an appeal against the plan is being £2-per-room per-night charge was introduced on Sunday after it was approved in a ballot by hotels which are part of the city's Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID).The aim of the fee, which is officially known as a "visitor charge", is to raise money to support Liverpool's visitor scheme is facing a challenge from Whitbread plc, which owns the Premier Inn chain of hotels. Whitbread has not publicly revealed the reasons for its opposition to the charge. Trade body UKHospitality said it had written to Liverpool's ABID to suggest the introduction of the charge be paused for eight weeks, pending the appeal outcome.A spokesperson said: "UKHospitality is clear that as these decisions are made, the ballot process must be fair, timely and transparent."We have been made aware of an appeal against the Liverpool Accommodation BID and we have therefore written to the BID with a suggested eight-week delay to its introduction to allow for the appeal to run its course." 'Not a tax' Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, which manages the Accommodation BID, suggested using the phrase "tourist-tax" was not helpful. He said: "This is not a tax. Local authorities raise taxes, central government raises taxes. "This visitor charge is an industry-led effort to boost the visitor economy, to have a say in how the hospitality sector is supported, and tackle the challenges it faces. "This has been a process entirely guided by the private sector board of hoteliers – who are using Business Improvement District legislation to make a difference for their industry and their city."Mr Addy added: "It's in the very DNA of Business Improvement Districts to support business and make cities thrive, and this is at the heart of this. "It isn't a political issue, it's far more important than that." The government has told the BID there was no requirement to pause the collection of the levy while the appeal process is considered. Were the Secretary of State to declared the results of the earlier ballot void, money raised would be returned to everyone who paid it. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hotel group challenges Liverpool's 'tourist tax'
A major hotel group is challenging a £2 "tourist tax" charge added to overnight stays for visitors to which owns Premier Inn, said the visitor levy which came into force on Sunday should be charge was voted for by members of the city's Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) in a ballot earlier this the 83 hotels in Liverpool who were asked, 59% (26) were in favour, on a turnout of 53%. The levy is mandatory for all hotels in the city above a certain rateable value, regardless of whether they took part in the ballot or whether they opposed the charge. According to the ABID, a £2 city charge per room per night could bring in over £9m pounds over two years, to support the visitor the idea has had its chief executive Dominic Paul has said that hotels, restaurants and bars were being held back by higher labour costs and faced additional burdens from possible surcharges on overnight in The Times, he said the hospitality industry "finds itself on the receiving end of a series of government interventions which together will significantly hold back our ability to contribute to growth". Concerns raised The government has confirmed it had received a request from Whitbread for the ballot result to be City Council said it was confident the ballot was conducted according to legal requirements, but will look at the concerns raised by the challenge by the deadline of 24 June.A minister will consider the response in determining whether the ballot should be declared government said hotels could continue to collect the cash from visitors, pending the outcome of the challenge, but visitors would be refunded if it is challenge comes as regional mayors, lead by Liverpool City Region's Steve Rotheram, have asked government to devolve powers to raise such taxes at local level, rather than via a BID ballot which is the only means available at the Doyle, Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture said Whitbread's challenge "reinforced the council's position and that of the mayors that visitor levies would benefit from a new national arrangement, established under the proposals for devolution."He added: "The case for a visitor levy has been made and is being advocated across the UK."The BBC has contacted Whitbread for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Skift
28-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Tourist Taxes to Spread Across UK in Overtourism Fight
Edinburgh will soon charge hotel guests an extra 5% tax, and the idea is catching on fast across the UK, impacting hotels, short-term rentals, and cruise lines. A cascade of tourist tax proposals is sweeping across the UK after Edinburgh became the first British city to approve a 5% hotel bed tax starting July 2026. Edinburgh's move, announced last August, has triggered a wave of similar tourist tax proposals across Britain as cash-strapped local governments eye taking a cut of tourism revenue while making it costlier to visit. Half of Scotland's local authorities are now developing similar levies, with Wales poised to vote on its own tourist tax legislation this summer, and some UK cruise ports are considering levies on passengers, too. Why now? Scotland last year became the first part of the UK to enable localities to charge visitor levies. The push stems from a practical constraint: Scotland's devolved government cannot create new national taxes without approval from the UK Treasury, which routinely refuses such requests, according to an inteview with Ross Greer, a Scottish Greens member of parliament. Edinburgh's announcement of a new visitor tax came during the city's festival season when four million visitors arrive each year in the town of 500,000 as part of a long-running live tourism experience. Other UK towns have grown increasingly frustrated with overtourism, making the tax politically palatable despite opposition from the hospitality industry, which fears that taxes could reduce tourism spending and add a compliance burden. Exhibit A is the Scottish Highlands, which, at almost 10,000 square miles of picturesque scenery, relies a lot on tourism. The Highlands Council estimated a levy could be worth £10 million (about $13.5 million). Wales is advancing similar visitor levy legislation, which would also introduce licensing requirements for hotels and short-term rentals. Northern Ireland is exploring comparable measures. The tourism tax trend reflects broader tensions over tourism's economic impact. While visitors bring spending, they also strain infrastructure and drive up housing costs. Tourist taxes offer local governments a way to capture revenue while potentially managing visitor flows. But local businesses say they could hurt overall tourism revenue. UK Cruising May Face Taxes, Too The tax wave isn't limited to hotels. Scottish ports are considering locally applied cruise passenger levies, backed by groups including the typically tourism-friendly Orkney Islands Council. Scotland welcomed 1.2 million cruise passengers last year, nearly half the UK total. The cruise industry warns that a patchwork of different charges could drive business elsewhere. "There are other destinations," said Andy Harmer, managing director of Cruise Line Industry Association, United Kingdom & Ireland. "What we don't want is Scotland seen as an unattractive place to do cruise business." Greer told Skift that the Green party proposed the tax as a way to help communities derive financial benefit from tourism as well as a way to discourage excess ship emissions. Due to differing local priorities and decisions about levies, the association suggested some ports may be disadvantaged over others. The Scottish government's consultation on cruise taxes runs through May 30, with a decision expected afterward. Meanwhile, other regions watch Edinburgh's experiment closely. Tourist taxes aren't new globally. Cities from Amsterdam to Venice have implemented various levies, with mixed results. Some claim to have successfully tamed overtourism while generating revenue. Others have faced legal challenges or seen tourism shift to untaxed neighboring areas. Possible Visitor Levies in England? In England, county-level authorities are watching Edinburgh's bed tax with interest. Some authorities in England's Lake District have lobbied for similar taxation powers. This year, the Lake District published a report looking at the opportunities of a similar tax in the English National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sees around 20 million visitors a year. England faces legal hurdles in applying visitor taxes that Scotland avoided. Most English authorities lack the devolved powers, the report's author, Davina Stanford, told Skift. Manchester represents a special exception, with some devolved powers under the mayor of Greater Manchester. However, its Business Improvement District bed tax only applies to the city center.
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Forbes
These Are The Cities Where You Have To Pay The Highest Tourist Taxes
Palm Tree-Lined Street Overlooking Los Angeles at Sunset As tourism continues to rebound post-pandemic, more destinations worldwide are implementing, or increasing, tourist taxes to drive revenue for their local economies and reduce the negative impacts of over-tourism. But, when breaking down the costs of their holidays, many travelers might not realise how much these seemingly small tourist taxes can add up to throughout a trip. In some cases, they may even add hundreds of dollars to your vacation costs. Whether you're planning a weekend city break in Europe or a getaway to a US hotspot, it has never been more important to know exactly how much tourist tax you'll need to pay. To help travelers navigate these somewhat hidden costs, vacation rental company Holidu has created a comprehensive guide that highlights the tourist taxes in different cities worldwide. The site also has a handy calculator at the bottom that helps you work out exactly how much tourist tax you'll have to pay in your chosen city destination. Coming in as the most expensive city for tourist taxes is Los Angeles. This California dream destination sees visitors flock year-round to experience its sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife, but what many may not know is that the city imposes a substantial 15.5% tax on total accommodation bookings. For an average-priced vacation rental at $275 per night in the city, this translates to an additional $43 in tourist tax each day, which could add as much as $300 to a week-long holiday. If you plan to visit the City of Angels, you'll want to budget in the cost of this tax. The U.S.'s 'Big Apple' takes second place in the rankings of the most expensive tourist tax cities, with its combination of a $3.50 per person nightly fee alongside a 14.75% tax on total bookings. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., this is a great way for New York to generate revenue from the 60 million tourists that visit the city each year to support its infrastructure and services, keeping its wheels turning year-round for globe-trotting visitors. Another U.S. destination to make the top five ranking, the country's capital of Washington D.C comes in third place, as it imposes a 14.95% tax on accommodations, resulting in an average nightly tax of $41 on a typical rental priced at $275 per night. Many travellers are happy to pay the cost though, given the city's iconic landmarks and plethora of cultural attractions like the White House and the Washington Monument, to name but a few. And it's this larger tourist tax fee that helps maintain these Washington world-class attractions and sights, many of which offer free admission to visitors. Some might say, therefore, that the added tourist tax is a worthwhile investment for the city's accessible attractions. The entertainment capital of the world takes fourth place in the rankings with its 13.38% accommodation tax, which adds approximately $28 to the nightly cost of an average $200 a night holiday rental. Known for its world-class casinos, exceptional shows, and extensive entertainment, Las Vegas puts its tourist taxes to good use to fund its education, tourism promotion, and infrastructure, amongst other initiatives, helping it to further attract visitors and enhance its reputation as one of the world's most thrilling destinations for a getaway. Rounding out the top five ranking is Montreal, Canada's UNESCO City of Design, known for its exceptional innovation. The city imposes a 3.5% tax on accommodations priced over $30 per night. While, compared to U.S. cities, this percentage may seem modest, it results in a notable $28.50 nightly tax on an average $95 per night accommodation, which is what proportionally makes it one of the highest tax rates in the ranking. Tourists should know that the tourist taxes in this city go towards the Tourism Partner Fund, helping to support and promote the wider province of Quebec's tourism industry, making them a worthwhile investment. While several cities around the world have long enforced a tourist tax, there are some which are only just considering rolling one out for visitors as a way to support their local economy and reduce overtourism: The capital of Scotland sees its fair share of tourists visiting for its historical significance and architectural beauty, and soon, travellers heading to Edinburgh will be expected to pay a tourist tax from 2026 onwards. This will be a 5% levy on various overnight accommodations in the city, which will be capped at five nights in a row, according to Edinburgh Council. With the levy in place, this is expected to increase to £50 million ($67 million) a year, which the city will invest in supporting, enhancing, and protecting Edinburgh's worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live. Thailand is also considering introducing a tourist tax before the end of 2025. Set to be as much as 300 baht, or $9.23, this one-off fee will be enforced for those entering the country by air, land, or sea. The tax will fund the country's tourism-related infrastructure, as well as insurance for tourists, but the full details are still being finalised. The costs are planned to be integrated into Thailand's Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) too, which launched at the beginning of May 2025.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mexico cruise passenger fee will take effect this summer. Here's how much you'll pay.
There's a new fee for cruise passengers looking for a sunny escape. Mexico's new cruise passenger fee will be much lower than expected when it takes effect this summer. According to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), cruise guests visiting the country will pay $5 beginning on July 1, rather than the previously announced $42 rate. That will go up to $10 between August 1, 2026, and June 2027; $15 from July 1, 2027, to July 2028; and $21 on August 1, 2028. FCCA's member lines make up more than 95% of cruise capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fee will be collected once per itinerary. "The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone," its statement read. "This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials." What are tourist taxes?: Why travelers are expected to pay up Mexico's National Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The fee was originally expected to be implemented in January before being delayed six months amid pushback from the cruise industry, which warned it could have potentially dire impacts. Cruise passengers had previously been exempt from tourist taxes under the Non-Migrant Rights policy since they were considered in transit, according to the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (AMANAC). More than 10 million cruise passengers are expected to visit Mexico in 2025, FCCA said in December. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: You'll have to pay a new fee for Mexico cruises starting this summer
