Bath council leader calls for tourist tax
Council leaders in Bath and Cambridge have written to Angela Rayner
Last updated 15th Jul 2025
Council leaders in Bath and Cambridge have written to Angela Rayner calling for a tax on tourism.
In the letter, councillors highlight the growing pressures faced by "destination cities", strain on infrastructure and increased demand on services.
They're now calling for a roundtable with the Government to explore a range of solutions, including a "modest visitor levy", similar to those seen in some parts of Europe and will soon be in place in Wales.
It would mean visitors to Bath would have to pay to stay in the city.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “We are proud of the huge role we play in supporting the national visitor economy, but we need a fairer system—one that recognises the costs as well as the benefits.
"This is about making tourism work for everyone. We want to sustain the quality of the visitor experience while safeguarding the wellbeing of our communities.
"That means giving councils the tools to manage tourism in a way that reflects local needs and priorities. Having the sort of powers now being introduced in Scotland and Wales would allow us to reinvest directly into the services and infrastructure that make these visits possible.
"Any levy should apply fairly across all types of accommodation, including short-term lets such as Airbnb.”