Starting in 2027, overnight visitors to Wales may be charged an additional £1.30 per night as part of a newly passed law that gives local councils authority to introduce a tourist tax, as per a report by The Independent. The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) approved the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) (Wales) Bill on July 8, paving the way for local authorities to implement the levy following public consultation.
The tax will apply to tourists aged 18 and above staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, or short-term rentals. For those camping or staying in hostels, the fee will be £0.75 per night. Councils choosing to adopt the levy will decide when and where it will apply within their jurisdiction.
While the law grants councils the option to introduce the tax, it does not enforce a uniform rollout. The earliest expected start date is 2027, after the required local consultations.
According to the report by Independent, Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said, “Visitor levies are used successfully all over the world. They ensure the pressures and opportunities tourism bring are balanced fairly between visitors and residents. We want the same for Wales.”
The revenue collected will support tourism infrastructure, such as public toilets, beaches, footpaths, and visitor centres. In addition, the government aims to use the earnings to support its Cymraeg 2050 initiative, which targets one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
The Welsh Government said the levy could be especially beneficial “within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy.”
Which other cities in the UK charge tourist tax?
Wales becomes the second UK nation to pass a law enabling local tourist levies, following Scotland. Edinburgh will introduce a 5% surcharge on overnight stays in 2026. Glasgow has announced plans to follow by 2027.
As per Euro News, in England, such powers do not currently exist under national legislation. However, several English cities have introduced tourism-related levies using Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), a legal workaround that allows businesses to fund local improvements through additional charges.
Manchester implemented the ‘City Visitor Charge’ in April 2023 under a BID model, followed by Liverpool. Other cities including Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, and Tweed Valley have similar arrangements in place. Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch had proposed a £2 nightly charge, though implementation has been paused following industry pushback.
More than 60 cities and countries worldwide impose tourism taxes. Venice launched a daytripper entry fee in 2024, collecting over €2.4 million during its spring pilot. France has levied its ‘taxe de séjour’ since 1910. As per Euro News, the Welsh Government says its rate is “low by global standards” and that exemptions are intentionally limited to maintain simplicity.
The tax will apply to tourists aged 18 and above staying in hotels, bed and breakfasts, or short-term rentals. For those camping or staying in hostels, the fee will be £0.75 per night. Councils choosing to adopt the levy will decide when and where it will apply within their jurisdiction.
While the law grants councils the option to introduce the tax, it does not enforce a uniform rollout. The earliest expected start date is 2027, after the required local consultations.
According to the report by Independent, Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said, “Visitor levies are used successfully all over the world. They ensure the pressures and opportunities tourism bring are balanced fairly between visitors and residents. We want the same for Wales.”
The revenue collected will support tourism infrastructure, such as public toilets, beaches, footpaths, and visitor centres. In addition, the government aims to use the earnings to support its Cymraeg 2050 initiative, which targets one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
The Welsh Government said the levy could be especially beneficial “within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy.”
Which other cities in the UK charge tourist tax?
Wales becomes the second UK nation to pass a law enabling local tourist levies, following Scotland. Edinburgh will introduce a 5% surcharge on overnight stays in 2026. Glasgow has announced plans to follow by 2027.
As per Euro News, in England, such powers do not currently exist under national legislation. However, several English cities have introduced tourism-related levies using Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), a legal workaround that allows businesses to fund local improvements through additional charges.
Manchester implemented the ‘City Visitor Charge’ in April 2023 under a BID model, followed by Liverpool. Other cities including Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, and Tweed Valley have similar arrangements in place. Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch had proposed a £2 nightly charge, though implementation has been paused following industry pushback.
More than 60 cities and countries worldwide impose tourism taxes. Venice launched a daytripper entry fee in 2024, collecting over €2.4 million during its spring pilot. France has levied its ‘taxe de séjour’ since 1910. As per Euro News, the Welsh Government says its rate is “low by global standards” and that exemptions are intentionally limited to maintain simplicity.
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