Resorts worry tourist tax will put families off

Seaside resorts say they are worried about the impact a tourism tax could have on the industry.

The Overnight Visitor Levy will allow regional mayors to introduce the extra payment, bringing England into line with Scotland and Wales, which are charging the tax at £1.30 per night for Wales and 5% for Scotland.

Even though Somerset is not yet able to apply this charge, Craig Goodwin, resort director at Butlin's in Minehead, Somerset, said it "risks making UK holidays less affordable for working families".

In a statement, the government said: "It will ultimately be up to mayors to decide whether to use it, in consultation with businesses and others in their areas."

It added that the final design of the visitor levy had not been decided.

Goodwin said tourism "supports jobs, careers, investment across communities".

"Butlins brings around half a million visitors to Minehead every year. Policy should support that and not make barriers to make it more expensive," he added.

But, for now, Bill Revans, leader of Somerset Council, said there were no available routes for his authority to introduce a tourism tax.

He said the government's proposal "is for strategic mayoral authorities and foundation strategic authorities".

"This motion does not apply to this council," Revans said.

Meanwhile, Kevin Guy, the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said he supported the tax.

He added: "I will be putting my foot down and making sure if five million tourists are coming to Bath, we need to get that money to improve the pavement, the parks.

"What that does is improve it for the local residents all year round."

The tax will affect jobs during an already difficult time for the tourism industry, according to the chief executive of the trade body UK Hospitality.

"It's going to have two effects; one is it's going to cost people a lot of money during a cost-of-living crisis," Allen Simpson said.

"The other thing is, research suggests it's going to cost 33,000 jobs from the tourism sector in the UK."

Another Somerset resort says the customers it caters for may not be able to afford to pay any more than they already do.

"We attract hard-working families, not luxury holiday makers," said Andrew Sheerin, marketing director at Unity Holidays in Brean.

"The concern we have at the moment is we are investing heavily in Brean to bring people to the area," said Sheerin.

He is concerned that if a tax were introduced in the county, it could impact the future of its seaside resorts.

"It's a very price-sensitive market. When we talk about about £100 a stay, something like £20 will make a difference."

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