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.

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.