Kevin Foster has hit out at plans announced today (Tuesday 25th November) by the Government to give new regional mayors the power to charge an overnight visitor levy, otherwise known as the “Tourist Tax”.
Following the Chancellor hitting tourism businesses with steep increases in National Insurance contributions and business rates. The new levy would be a further blow to Devon & Cornwall’s tourism industry, adding further costs to businesses and costs for tourists.
An overnight visitor levy would see those booking hotel rooms and other tourism accommodation within our region charged an additional fee per night as a tax. This would be in addition to the VAT already applied to holiday accommodation which they must pay and taxes paid by tourism businesses, such as business rates and national insurance contributions.
Commenting, Kevin Foster said:
“The announcement a Regional Mayor will have the power to hit Devon and Cornwall’s iconic tourism industry with yet another tax is deeply worrying. A tourism tax would be yet another burden on a sector which is already being hit hard by Labour’s tax rises.”
“It might seem a handy way for those on the left to pledge yet more spending to their supporters, whilst handing someone else the bill. Yet this ignores how much the tourism sector creates jobs, supports families and makes our region what it is. If tobacco taxes deter smoking and alcohol taxes deter drinking, what do they think a tourism tax will do to Devon & Cornwall?”
