Should a tourist tax be introduced in Bristol?

It is commonplace in Rome, Berlin and Barcelona, but industry leaders say the introduction of a Bristol ‘tourist tax’ would be “devastating to the city”.

The idea of applying a small levy on the cost of hotel rooms has been touted by the Green councillor group as a means of boosting income and paying for the infrastructure and attractions used by visitors.

Hoteliers and tourism bosses have hit back at the suggestion that Bristol should follow Bath’s lead in considering the measure – one that is unprecedented in the UK – arguing that the city needs to increase footfall, rather than introducing a “regressive tax” on those looking to stay overnight.

“Quite why Bristol is putting its hands up and saying we possibly want to introduce a tourism tax is quite remarkable,” says Mark Payne,  general manager of The Bristol hotel and chairman of Bristol Hoteliers Association.

“We already lag behind, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford, to name a few cities who encourage more visitors than us.

Mark Payne argues a tourist tax would be detrimental to Bristol

“Given that we are competing for tourism against all of these cities why would we then impose a tax to visit Bristol?”

He argues that rather than hitting paying visitors, a better policy would be to target property owners benefiting from the city’s popularity, saying: “There are between 500 – 1500 active rooms for sale on Airbnb in Bristol, the highest for a city outside of London.

“These are unregulated, don’t pay business rates and don’t employ people or pay tax – why not go after these businesses who completely avoid paying tax?

“The city currently has restaurants closing down on a weekly basis. A lot of the cities restaurants close on a Sunday and Monday night – the fact is we don’t get enough footfall in the city to sustain restaurants over a weekly basis.”

Should Bristol be charging visitors coming to see the sights?

Several destination cities across the world impose payments of as much as €6 per night onto overnight accommodation as a way of boosting the economy, but the European Tourism Association has campaigned against the practice, saying it is damaging to the sector.

According to a report commissioned by Visit Britain, tourism has been the fastest growing sector in the UK, in terms of employment, since 2010 and the industry is expected to be worth more than £257 billion to the nation’s economy by 2025.

Carla Denyer says a tourist tax could benefit the city as a whole

Carla Denyer, councillor for Clifton Down, outlined the idea of a tourist tax as one of four budget proposals the Greens would implement if they were in power to help boost the city’s ailing coffers.

She says the measure has potential, would benefit the city and help counter Government-imposed austerity that is taking its toll on the city.

Renewable energy and climate campaigner Alasdair Cameron agrees, saying the measure could raise millions of pounds a year and help plug the council’s £108m budget gap by 2023.

Writing in his blog, he says: “Like other authorities around the country, Bristol City Council is in trouble.

“At the same time, the city itself is booming, with population, construction and tourism expanding rapidly.

“We also know that the transition to a low carbon, environmentally friendly economy is both the greatest challenge and greatest opportunity of the coming decades. It is also essential. We simply cannot carry on as normal.

“A tourist tax would help with both, and would also be a fair tax. Tourism is a high-carbon and relatively high-income business, and a little tax on it is justified.”

But John Hirst, chair of Destination Bristol, says the organisation’s members are united in their opposition to such a proposal.

“Destination Bristol do not support the current proposals for introduction of a ‘bed tax’ in Bristol,” he said, adding that there has been regular consultation with members on the matter over the last few years.

“We are aware that consideration is being given in some cities to the introduction of this new tax. We would be keen to review any trials in other cities and then make the correct decision for Bristol.”

Payne adds that Bristol’s tourism businesses are already subsidising the council by paying into the Business Improvement Districts which create a £1.2m a year to help pay for cleaning, PR, security at night, removal of graffiti and Christmas lights.

Bristol’s 2018/19 budget will be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday, February 20.

Main photo from Destination Bristol

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