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20
Nov
Mayor lobbies Chancellor over 'gamechanger' visitor tax powers
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has lobbied the Chancellor for the power to impose a visitor levy in the region.
David Skaith, Labour mayor of the region, hand delivered a letter to Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, which calls for the new power to be introduced as part of the upcoming Budget.
The move comes as a new policy unit set up by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and York St John University found that a £2-a-night, per-room charge for overnight stays in the region could raise up to £52.2 million each year.
Mr Skaith said:
A visitor levy in York and North Yorkshire would be a total gamechanger for our region. We’re home to beautiful towns, villages and cities and receive 41 million visitors a year as a result.
A small charge on overnight stays could revolutionise how we deliver transport, support businesses, invest in infrastructure and the visitor economy. Building the healthy and thriving communities for our residents and everyone that comes to visit them.
Mr Skaith added that the move would allow for improvements to transport, infrastructure, key growth sectors, the visitor economy and mitigating the impacts of high visitor numbers for local residents.
The Chancellor will announce her Budget to the House of Commons on November 26.
The news comes after the Stray Ferret revealed North Yorkshire Council is set to consider proposals for a tourism-based BID in Harrogate.
The move would see an Accommodation Business Improvement District established in the town, which would aim to support the visitor economy.
The purpose of the organisation would be to increase overnight stays and length of stay.
It would have the power to levy a £2 per room, per-night visitor levy on some hotels to raise funds to spend on destination marketing and attracting events.
According to Harrogate BID, the levy is estimated to raise around £679,000 a year.
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