Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the comment by the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism on 3 September 2025 (HC Deb col 351) that there are no plans to introduce a tourism tax, why they are considering the introduction of an overnight visitor levy.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
English devolution is a key priority for this government, and by putting more fiscal powers into the hands of local leaders in England, we can help them to increase prosperity in their regions.
As part of this, we will empower local leaders in England to introduce a levy on overnight accommodation in their areas. This will give them greater fiscal freedom, enabling them to drive economic growth including through support for the local visitor economy. Evidence from international and domestic schemes suggested modest rates have minimal impact on visitor numbers and improves destinations and visitor experiences.
The precise design and scope of the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy are still being developed. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will ultimately be for Mayors and other local leaders, based on what is right for their area.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult with hospitality and tourism businesses before introducing an overnight visitor levy; and what steps they will take to ensure that views of small and medium-sized enterprises are represented in that consultation.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is empowering Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy in their region to drive economic growth, including through support for the local visitor economy.
The government is consulting on the design of the new power but the decision of whether or not to introduce the levy will be for mayors who will need to consult when they do so. The precise design and scope of the power is still under development, but the impacts will largely be determined by local decisions.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of an overnight visitor levy on recruitment, hiring intentions and employment levels within the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is empowering Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy in their region to drive economic growth, including through support for the local visitor economy.
The government is consulting on the design of the new power but the decision of whether or not to introduce the levy will be for mayors who will need to consult when they do so. The precise design and scope of the power is still under development, but the impacts will largely be determined by local decisions.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of an overnight visitor levy on small and independent businesses operating in the hospitality sector.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is empowering Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy in their region to drive economic growth, including through support for the local visitor economy.
The government is consulting on the design of the new power but the decision of whether or not to introduce the levy will be for mayors who will need to consult when they do so. The precise design and scope of the power is still under development, but the impacts will largely be determined by local decisions.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Wirral (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the proposed overnight visitor levy on the ability of lower income families to afford domestic holidays.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is empowering Mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy in their region to drive economic growth, including through support for the local visitor economy.
The government is consulting on the design of the new power but the decision of whether or not to introduce the levy will be for mayors who will need to consult when they do so. The precise design and scope of the power is still under development, but the impacts will largely be determined by local decisions.