New cost for anybody staying in a single day in Wales as tourism tax launched

Holidaymakers heading to Wales will be hit with an extra charge of between £4 and £6 per night as part of a new “tourism tax” announced by the Welsh Government.

The visitor levy, set to be introduced in 2027, will apply to all overnight stays, including Airbnb, holiday cottages, B&Bs, hotels, hostels, and campsites. Locals taking leisure or business trips within Wales will also be subject to the fee.

The charge will be split into two tiers, with those staying in hostels or campsites paying 75p per person per night, and those in other types of accommodation paying £1.25 per person per night.

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Finance secretary Mark Drakeford described the levy as a “small contribution that could make a big difference”, with the aim of enhancing facilities such as public toilets and parking that benefit both residents and visitors.

The decision to introduce the levy will be left to each of Wales’ 22 councils, although many are likely to take up the option given the potential for extra revenue.

Welsh councils could be raking in an extra £33m a year if they all decide to slap a visitor levy on tourists. The earliest the charges could kick in is 2027, following local consultations.

But the Welsh tourism industry is up in arms about the idea, fearing it’ll scare off visitors. Welsh Tory MS Peter Fox slammed the policy as “wrong”, claiming it’ll strangle the industry with red tape and cost jobs, reports North Wales Live.

He argued: “Our tourism industry should be nurtured by the Welsh Government, not hamstrung by new taxes.”

The Wales Tourism Alliance said: “The tourism and hospitality industry contributes billions of pounds annually to the Welsh economy and employs over 11% of the working population and the Wales Tourism Alliance does not believe that a Visitor Levy is the right solution for Wales.

They added: “What has been proposed will instead increase the costs for tourism and hospitality businesses, which will be passed on to our visitors, without any perceived ‘added value.'”

But Mark Drakeford insists it’s only fair that tourists chip in for the local services they use. He said: “We know tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life. We want to ensure its long-term sustainability.”

He added: “That’s why we believe it is fair visitors contribute towards local facilities, helping to fund infrastructure and services integral to their experience. Visitor levies are common around the world, benefiting local communities, tourists and businesses – and we want the same for Wales.”

Visitor levies are becoming increasingly common worldwide, particularly in areas suffering from over-tourism. Countries such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and even California have implemented these charges.

City levies are also on the rise, with tourist taxes now being enforced in cities like Manchester, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Barcelona and New York. The funds collected are intended to be used for maintaining local infrastructure utilised by visitors.

A Bill granting local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy is set to be introduced today (Monday, November 25) in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). This Bill will also outline plans for a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, expected to launch in 2026.

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