UK holiday hotspot warns of new tourist tax on all visitors | The Sun

HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Wales could be forced to pay a tourist tax under plans outlined by the Welsh Government.

The country is looking to introduce a levy for overnight visitors.

According to ITVX, the charge could be introduced by 2027 under plans outlined by the Welsh Government.

Despite the Welsh Government discussing the plans for several years, a new timetable was outlined in a promotional leaflet called "A visitor levy for Wales: A contribution for a sustainable future".

The tax would give councils the power to charge overnight guests.

It said: "This contribution will be paid by visitors and invested in sustainable tourism, helping to grow our economy, support our communities, and preserve the beauty of Wales for future generations."

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While Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru support the charge, the Welsh Conservatives are opposed to the levy.

The proposal will be put to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) by the end of this year.

If the plans are approved, councils in Wales, and their local communities, will then decide whether they should charge holidaymakers.

Earlier this year, joint chairwoman of Anglesey Tourism Association Nia Jones told the BBC: "Some local authorities are for it – I don't think we're talking a huge amount of money, it'll be a couple of pounds extra for the accommodation sector.

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"The important part is that is spent on the tourism infrastructure and if that happens and people can see the visible and tangible benefits of the tax then we wait to see how it works."

While a tourist tax is a common feature in many European cities, destinations across the UK have also started to introduce the levy.

Earlier this year, Manchester became the first city in the UK to introduce such a charge.

Any visitors staying in the city will need to pay £1 a night, per room, as part of the new scheme.

Other areas of the country, like Bath, Oxford, and Edinburgh, have also suggested they could introduce an overnight tax too.

In Europe, places like Venice and Barcelona already have tourist taxes in place.

Barcelona tourists have to pay €4 (£3.49) a night, and Venice has a current tourist tax up to €5 (£4.37).

Earlier this year, Thailand introduced a tourist tax too – here are some other holiday hotspots where Brits have to pay a tourist tax.


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