The mayor of York is supporting calls for a tourist tax (Image: Getty)
A Labour mayor has threatened a brutal tourist tax on visitors to a major UK city.
David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has thrown his weight behind calls for a tourist tax in the area to maintain public services and tourist spots.
He joins senior York councillors and York Central’s Labour MP Rachael Maskell in supporting the levy on visitors, saying mayors would need more powers to raise their own funds as they take on further responsibilities.
But the government has said it currently has no plans to give local authorities in England the power to introduce tourism taxes.
This comes after both Edinburgh and Manchester introduced accommodation charges. Edinburgh’s 5% tax will come into effect next year and Manchester has a £1 nightly charger already in place.
An MP has said the tax could raise up to £3.4 million a year (Image: Getty)
Skaith told the that York and North Yorkshire welcome more than 25 million visitors a year, adding: “A modest visitor levy, like those in most European cities, would allow us to invest in public services.
“That would help us to keep our great places attractive for both residents and visitors as well as improving services that residents rely on, such as transport.”
Labour-run City of York Council’s leader and deputy leader – Claire Douglas and Pete Kilbane – have both backed a visitor levy. Kilbane said the local authority would lobby for levy charge powers so it could control how the money was spent.
Maskell estimated that charges of £1 or £2 a night on stays in York could raise £1.7m and £3.4m a year respectively.
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But Hospitality Association York warned that the industry is already facing mounting costs, including upcoming minimum wage and National Insurance increases.
Rebecca Layton, who is Indie York chair and runs the Galtres Lodge Hotel, said: “Fundamentally we’re against it as a business and as the hospitality association.
“One of the problems is there is no real detail behind it – there are various figures flying around, we haven’t had the detail to be able to give a proper response.”
York-based sales and marketing business owner Keith Rozelle said he would welcome the charges. “Something has got to be done because councils’ budgets have been pared to the bone,” he said. “The city is an amazing place, I want to keep it amazing.”