World News
Ministers plan to grant English mayors powers for overnight tourist levies
New proposals would let local leaders charge an uncapped percentage on overnight stays to fund regional investment.
Latest update: UKHospitality warned the proposed tourist levies put jobs at risk, while local leaders prepare to set out revenue investment plans by March 2028.
The short version
- Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is set to outline plans allowing English mayors to enact an overnight visitor charge.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The levy would be calculated as a percentage of accommodation fees without a statutory ceiling.[BBC News]
- UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson warned the measure threatens jobs and cited negative effects from Edinburgh's tax.[The Guardian]
- Local leaders are slated to present their revenue investment strategies by March 2028.[BBC News]
Key facts
- The housing secretary is slated to detail proposals enabling English mayors to enact an overnight tourist fee.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The proposed fee will be calculated as a percentage of lodging costs instead of a fixed rate, carrying no statutory upper limit.[BBC News]
- Allen Simpson, the head of UKHospitality, warned that the proposal threatens local jobs and pointed to adverse impacts from Edinburgh's levy.[The Guardian]
- Local authorities are scheduled to outline plans for reinvesting the generated funds by March 2028.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- The specific percentage rates mayors might ultimately choose to enact remain undetermined because no statutory ceiling is planned.[BBC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Tourist tax plans for England set to be outlinedBBC News - Top Stories
- Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plansThe Guardian - World