Welsh councils can introduce levy on tourism

The Senedd has passed legislation to give councils the choice to introduce a small fee on overnight stays to raise and reinvest funding into local tourism.

The Bill, the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill, establishes the first local tax designed and legislated for in Wales.

The Bill will ensure that all funds raised are retained and then reinvested in the local area, and the levy is set at 75p per person per night for adults staying in hostels and campsites and at £1.30 per person per night for all visitors staying on other types of accommodation. Under 18s are exempt from paying this, and the earliest this can be introduced in 2027.

The Bill also introduces a national statutory register for all visitor accommodation providers in Wales, which will be free to join and provide valuable data and insight about the size and scale of the sector across Wales.

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford said: “Visitor levies are used successfully all over the world. They ensure the pressures and opportunities tourism bring are balanced fairly between visitors and residents. We want the same for Wales.

“The levy is a small contribution that will make a big difference to our communities, helping to maintain and enhance the very attractions and services that make Wales such a wonderful place to visit and live.

“By voting to back this measure, Wales is joining many other worldwide destinations which already benefit from similar levies.”