Proposed visitor levy for Wales
The Welsh Government are considering introducing a visitor tax that would apply to camping, caravans and motorhomes if they stop at a site in Wales overnight. This tax could be added to the site fees although he amount has not been decided. There is a consultation which started in September and ends on the 13th December so there is not much time to respond. For more information the link is: https://gov.wales/visitor-levy#respond-blockhttps://gov.wales/visitor-levy#respond-block
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https://gov.wales/visitor-levy#respond-blockhttps://gov.wales/visitor-levy#respond-block
Thanks for the post, I've made the link active
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Living in an area where visitors can put a huge strain on resources, I can understand the view of the Welsh Govt. Visitors, though, do bring income to our area so it is a two edged sword.
The admin of such a scheme will be huge and nobody yet has an answer to the issue of collecting tourist tax from those LV-ers who don't use recognised sites.
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It is on all types of accommodation here hotels,B&B all camping, gites and call Taxe de Sejour and has been for a number of years and varies by department and collected at source as or friends have to do for their B&B and they do the paperwork regularly.
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Additional admin for CLs. Might be enough, particularly those that provide EHU to call it a day given the increased cost. Definitely a case for a chain of basic along the lines of Camping-Car-Park with automated access and payment. Otherwise I can see a significant escalation in 'wild camping'.
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Excellent idea RJ👍🏻, we make the mess we should pay. In times of Austerity increasing income is paramount. I fully support the revenue raisers👏🏻👏🏻
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I think it will not be long before many LAs in the UK tourist hot spots will go down the same route,to help maintain services including refuse collection from litter bins and litter louts
We have some very popular lakes that are a magnet at weekend and school holidays for people from London although its about a 20+mile journey ,which takes a team of litter pickers to clear up so a tourist "tax?"would help offset the cost to our council tax
North Norfolk LA considering it according to one of their councillors
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Do we not spend enough on supporting local business now, i know i do. A couple of £ a night will add up on a months holiday which could be a couple of meals out at local pubs, cafes etc. not happening. Do we really think money collected by LA's will go to the local community? I'm not so sure.
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I do not think that a tourist "tax"would be put in position to assist with local businesses,except to keep there taxes down,but to help as others have said to go towards keeping the area as tourists hope to find them on arrival,not necessarily as some leave it
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As others have said it happens already in Europe. If I want to go somewhere then it's part of the cost and we pay it.
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Sorry if people don't agree with my view. So why aren't we calling this a Cash Grab by the Welsh government when the club were accused of the same for asking for a deposit. Without getting into politics isn't it that responsibility of governments, even devolved governments, to provide this services from central funding.
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As many have said having a daily tourist tax is quite common in mainland Europe and those of us who have experienced it just treat it as a way that they do things. I can see the attraction of countries in the UK following suit. Clearly it would depend on two things as far as I was concerned 1) How much and 2) What would it be spent on. If the charge was kept quite modest, say a pound or under per night I would have no issues with that. If it was spent of improving the tourist experience in Wales which could encompass the provision of all sorts of things Leisure facilities to car parks etc I would also be reasonably happy. Where I would be less happy was if the charge was more than a pound per person and any funds raised when into the general Government coffers.
David
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Why do you do it JVB, even when somebody agrees with you. Thanks for the definition of a tourist by the way but I think that everyone on CT knows that. The point you have ignored is that the tourist tax wouldn't paid by everyone and I don't think it is fine to hit the easy target I.e. those already paying for accommodation.
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The impact on local services (hospitals, beach patrols, litter picking, providing public conveniences, etc…..) is there to see in many areas of the UK. I don’t have any issue with a small levy on visitors if it’s ringfenced for local usage, and helps sustain local services and the environment. The lack of public toilets during the COVID staycation peak came as a salutary lesson for some locations, and things certainly aren’t going to get any easier after this weeks announcements. Doesn’t matter what your accommodation is really……
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Agreed that is another way. I live on the South Coast in a large resort town and is very obvious in peek season day trippers will park anywhere to avoid paying for parking. Increasing already high parking charges will just push more cars onto on street parking creating another issue and not collecting the tourist tax.
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sorry off topic
