19 April 2024 , 19:18
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A popular UK seaside resort is considering bringing in a tourist tax to cope with soaring costs racked up by out-of-town visitors.
Councillors on Thanet District Council, which covers an area of Kent including Margate, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate, have suggested the new charge on overnight stays in an attempt to raise cash and "reduce the impact" of visitors on the local community. It comes after a working party was set to look into other issues arising from summer crowds - such as those with public toilets, waste, beaches, and traffic.
If the proposal were implemented, it would follow in the footsteps of Manchester, which became the first UK destination to start charging visitors last year. Proposals to levy a £1 tourist tax were also tabled at Cornwall Council earlier this year. The council has said there is currently "no formal proposal to introduce a tax on tourists" and that "neither the central government nor local councils have the power to introduce such a tax".
In a report put before the council, members of the working team of councillors in Thanet said they wanted to ensure local seaside towns have a "booming" visitor economy, but admit summer visitors can end up forcing locals to cover unwanted costs. One section of the report states: "We want a booming visitor economy but we are acutely aware of the additional costs visitors bring, so we need to make every effort to secure income for the council to set against those costs.
"For example, levying additional council tax on second homes, levying a modest tourism tax on overnight stays, ensuring holiday lets contribute to funding the costs they impose". Another suggestion included "taking a robust approach with Southern Water over beach pollution" and "exploring opportunities to provide paid-for facilities like beach huts with facilities for overnight stays."
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One local Tory councillor, John Davis, said he would back any tax on holiday lets and Airbnbs. He told Kent Online that there were currently "866 homes for short-term let and 21 flats" in Ramsgate, despite the ongoing housing shortage.
A spokesperson from Thanet District Council said: "Thanet is blessed with miles of glorious coastline and 16 bathing beaches and bays. Tourism is a vital part of the local economy, supporting more than 5,000 jobs and generating £212 million in revenue annually. The Tourism Review Working Group comprised five Councillors and was established to explore how the impact of tourism on the council’s services and its local communities could be mitigated.
"The group considered five different areas as part of their review: beach management, public toilets, waste management, traffic management and financial management. Their report contains a number of potential ideas for consideration by the council’s Cabinet. At this stage, there is no formal proposal to introduce a tax on tourists and at present, in England, neither the central government nor local councils have the power to introduce such a tax."