SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging the Welsh Government to scrap the new law to introduce the controversial visitor levy.
Mr Rowlands, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Tourism, is a constant critic of the plan and was commenting following reports that Cardiff could become the first city in Wales to introduce a tourism tax.
He warns that the legislation allowing councils to tax visitors £1.30-a-night plus VAT, for stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation from April 2027, which was passed in September, will harm small businesses, cost jobs and deter visitors at a time when the hospitality sector needs support most.
He said: “I really couldn’t believe it when this toxic tax was passed and I am urging Welsh Government to think again as in this current climate the last thing we should be doing is discouraging people from visiting North Wales.
“One of the biggest employers in North Wales is the tourism sector, which supports around 46,000 jobs and in normal times generates over £3.5 billion annually to the local economy. We should be supporting our hospitality industry not hindering its growth.
“Labour and Plaid’s toxic tourism tax is bad for business and will damage the local economy in any county implementing it.
“The Welsh Government’s own figures point to millions of pounds of economic damage and hundreds of job losses.”
In September the Senedd passed a new law allowing councils to tax visitors £1.30-a-night plus VAT, for stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation from 2027. People staying in hostels and campsites would pay 75p per person per night, with under-18s exempt from the lower rate of the tax.
Mr Rowlands added: “Welsh Government will allow local authorities to make their own decisions on whether to levy the additional charge for overnight stays in visitor accommodation and I understand that Wrexham County Borough Council has already said it will not introduce the visitor levy.
“That is great to hear but I would urge Welsh Government to scrap the law altogether. The Welsh Conservatives, if given the opportunity by voters next year, will axe the tax before it can come into force.”
