Overview
- The plan, set out in Wednesday's King's Speech, would devolve power to introduce an overnight levy to England's 13 mayoral authorities, with each mayor setting local rates.
- The charge could cover hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, holiday lets and other stays, and ministers say a formal response to last year's consultation will clarify the final design.
- Supporters including London’s Sadiq Khan, Liverpool City Region’s Steve Rotheram and Brighton leader Bella Sankey say a modest fee would raise money to reinvest in visitor services and local assets.
- Industry groups UKHospitality and the CBI warn the levy would raise costs, with Oxford Economics modelling a £1.6 billion extra tax on visitors and 33,000 job losses, and polling cited by the sector showing most respondents oppose the idea.
- Some Labour MPs from seaside areas, including Blackpool South and Weston-super-Mare, caution the policy could deter bookings and squeeze working families in towns that rely on tourism.