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18
Feb
Tourist tax would be mayor’s decision, says senior councillor
A senior North Yorkshire councillor has stressed that his authority would have no say on whether a visitor levy was introduced in York and North Yorkshire as the region’s mayor sets out the next steps for the proposal.
Labour mayor David Skaith says he has met with more than 100 hospitality and tourism business owners across the region in recent weeks, visiting Skipton, Harrogate, Scarborough, and York.
He told businesses that the York and North Yorkshire Policy Lab research into the rewards and risks of the overnight visitor levy had found it could generate up to £52 million a year based on a £2 per person, per night charge.
The research is exploring the opportunities and challenges of introducing a levy in the region, investigating how it could be implemented with either percentage or flat rates and whether there should be exceptions, including residents for example.
The government is due to close its national consultation on giving mayors the power to introduce a visitor levy, also known as a tourist tax, today (February 18).
Today is also expected to see the result announced of a ballot on whether Harrogate hotels will introduce a separate tourist tax.
If the mayor's levy gets the green light from ministers, Mr Skaith said he would then hold a region-wide consultation before any levy was introduced.
He said:
York and North Yorkshire is beautiful, with something for everyone. That’s why millions of people come spend time here every year, it’s a success story for our region, with over 54,000 jobs, but it also adds a lot of pressure to local services.
I’m focussed on the people who live and work here and who feel the impact of millions of visitors. I’ll make sure that we prioritise the places and public services that feel the most pressure, without costing residents an extra penny.
A visitor levy could be a total game changer for our region, it’s an opportunity to drive investment into our communities, and back businesses in our tourism and hospitality sectors with the support we all know we need, but nobody has the money for right now. We must get this right for our region and that’s what I’m focussed on as we go through this process.
'It’s not our decision'
In its response to the government consultation, Tory-run North Yorkshire Council highlighted concerns from the tourism industry about the levy.
Of the 277 responses to its survey, 71 per cent were opposed to the idea, with 18 per cent in support and 11 per cent neutral.
The authority’s executive member for open to business, Councillor Mark Crane, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that ultimately it would be down to the mayor to decide on whether to bring in a levy in York and North Yorkshire, if he was given the powers.
He said:
We’ll continue to listen to views from residents and others but basically we await the next step from the government and from the mayor.
To be clear, it’s not our decision and we don’t have a veto. If the mayor decides to go ahead with it then we have to accept that.
It’s also important to know that the mayor would then decide where the money’s going to be spent. That’s the other thing that concerns us, as we think the money may not be spent where it’s raised.
Respondents to the council’s survey feared a visitor levy would lead to a decline in the number of people visiting York and North Yorkshire.
Tourism businesses were also concerned it would discourage overnight stays or shorten trips, particularly among visitors and families on a budget.
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