Louisa Ellins Tourist tax could bring benefits
Discussions of how to alleviate the council’s financial pressures are commonplace in the Advertiser these days.
A little while ago I read of a suggested new Windsor tourist tax.
A tax on overnight stays in the town would generate income from visitors flocking to see Windsor Castle and soak in the regal atmosphere.
This approach has been in operation in mainland Europe for some years and I first came across it in Bruges, Belgium in
2015.
Last month I visited Amsterdam, where the city imposes a 12.5 per cent tax on every hotel room and private rental booking.
This felt a little steep, and with good reason given that 12.5 per cent (up from seven per cent in 2023) is likely the highest figure in Europe.
But the idea of asking visitors to contribute a little to the upkeep of facilities and infrastructure – essentially helping to keep the city somewhere they would want to visit – is surely a sensible one.
Business visitors are not usually exempt; in fact, it’s a tax on tourists in name only.
One reason given for the tax is reducing the financial burden on residents.
Now, doesn’t that sound like a good idea?
A tax of a few per cent of the room cost (or sometimes a fixed price per person) is now commonplace in a growing list of destinations worldwide.
If you’re determined to visit a place, it is a (relatively) small price to pay and it doesn’t seem to put people off.
There would be implementation and running costs, of course, but with Manchester having introduced a £1 per room, per night fee in 2023 and Cambridge and Edinburgh planning similar schemes, I believe it is well worth considering.