Cornwall town considers introducing voluntary levy for tourists
The idea is being discussed for St Ives
Last updated 31st May 2023
St Ives is considering a voluntary levy for tourists.
The popular holiday destination in Cornwall has been in discussions with businesses about bringing one in.
A compulsory charge would need a change to the law.
Johnnie Wells, the mayor of St Ives, said: "Europe saw this years and years ago and throughout Europe, wherever you go on holiday you pay a bed tax of some sort and it can be quite a lot of money in some places. And that money stays in the town and gets spent on facilities in the town.
"The money has to be a voluntary thing. There's no way at the moment we can put it through as a tax or get government regulation to do it.
"If we do, we'll be waiting goodness knows how long to put it in place."
The scheme means people face an extra £1 per room, per night, for their accommodation cost and would be on top of current changes already made to the town, including charging tourists to use public toilets.
Two tourists, who are visiting St Ives from Switzerland, told us similar schemes are in place where they live and they would support a similar levy in places like Cornwall.
They said: "You can support tourism and in Switzerland you pay for a night and the money goes to the community.
"They do something for the whole community with the money so I think it's a good opinion."