Welsh Government To Consider Imposing New Tax On Tourists
A consultation on the proposal will be launched in the autumn
The Welsh Government has confirmed it is looking into the possibility of introducing a tax on tourists visiting the country.
A consultation will be set up in the autumn later this year to look at the potential avenues that bringing in a tourist levy would yield.
Tourism is a major source of income for Wales, with £5 billion of revenue generated from tourists alone in 2019.
But the government believes the introduction of a tourist tax would help to fund areas like infrastructure which could keep iconic Welsh landmarks open to the public without the need for additional help.
The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, and the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, both contain commitments to introduce levies.
Minister for Finance and Local Government in Wales, Rebecca Evans MS said that a levy on visitors would continue to support Welsh tourist hotspots for years to come.
"Visitor levies are a common feature in tourist destinations internationally. They are an opportunity for visitors to make an investment in local infrastructure and services, which in turn make tourism a success," she said.
"Without such a levy, local communities face an undue burden to fund local services and provisions on which tourists rely. From keeping the beaches and pavements clean, through to maintaining local parks, toilets and footpaths – the critical infrastructure that supports tourism should be supported by all those that rely on it.
Ms Evans went on to say that the levy would be proportionate to the area and that local authorities would have the power to adjust the levy accordingly.
According to Ms Evans, the tax would also only apply to those who were staying overnight in the local authority, and that revenue generated from the tax would go towards funding infrastructure projects like maintenance and transport.