Conservative London Assembly members have questioned the Mayor of London’s plans to consider introducing a tourist tax in the capital.
The Tory Deputy Chair of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, Alessandro Georgiou, has claimed a tourist tax would harm businesses in the hospitality sector.
Sadiq Khan had previously said he is willing to look into a scheme that would charge visitors to London on a nightly basis.
A similar scheme was introduced in Manchester last year. There, a fee of £1 a night is now added to hotel bills.
In its first year, the tax raised £2.8 million which has been reinvested in street cleaning and tourism marketing campaigns.
A ‘nightmare’ to administer
Many European cities operate similar schemes. Tourists play a flat rate of €4 (£3.30) a night in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
In Paris, the fee varies depending on the hotel. Guests in one-star accommodation or youth hostels pay €2.60 (£2.16) a night, with more glamorous stays at five-star hotels costing just under €11 (£9.15.)
Despite the success of these schemes in Europe, Mr Georgiou does not think City Hall has the resources to administer an equivalent in London, saying it would be a “nightmare” to manage.
The chief executive of trade body UKHospitality has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of a new tax.
Kate Nicholls says the sector is already “burdened with increasing costs,” and an additional tax, at a time where tourist numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, would be “extremely damaging.”
The hotel tax ‘is a no brainer’
The Mayor’s plans have been supported by Liberal Democrats and Green Party members in the Assembly.
The Greens’ Caroline Russell has suggested the money raised could be used to fund additional public toilets.
Hina Bokhari of the Lib Dems wants to see the revenue support a struggling nightlife sector.
Mr Georgiou doubts that Mr Khan will spend the money raised effectively. He says he “cannot trust the mayor with more public money.”
But not all Conservatives agree with him.
The Tory deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Kim Taylor-Smith, says she is “absolutely in favour,” describing the tax as a “no brainer.”
Short HeadlineFears that London tourist tax 'could harm businesses'
StandfirstThe Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says he will look at plans for a nightly hotel fee
Conservative London Assembly members have questioned the Mayor of London’s plans to consider introducing a tourist tax in the capital.
The Tory Deputy Chair of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, Alessandro Georgiou, has claimed a tourist tax would harm businesses in the hospitality sector.
Sadiq Khan had previously said he is willing to look into a scheme that would charge visitors to London on a nightly basis.
A similar scheme was introduced in Manchester last year. There, a fee of £1 a night is now added to hotel bills.
In its first year, the tax raised £2.8 million which has been reinvested in street cleaning and tourism marketing campaigns.
A ‘nightmare’ to administer
Many European cities operate similar schemes. Tourists play a flat rate of €4 (£3.30) a night in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
In Paris, the fee varies depending on the hotel. Guests in one-star accommodation or youth hostels pay €2.60 (£2.16) a night, with more glamorous stays at five-star hotels costing just under €11 (£9.15.)
Despite the success of these schemes in Europe, Mr Georgiou does not think City Hall has the resources to administer an equivalent in London, saying it would be a “nightmare” to manage.
The chief executive of trade body UKHospitality has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of a new tax.
Kate Nicholls says the sector is already “burdened with increasing costs,” and an additional tax, at a time where tourist numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, would be “extremely damaging.”
The hotel tax ‘is a no brainer’
The Mayor’s plans have been supported by Liberal Democrats and Green Party members in the Assembly.
The Greens’ Caroline Russell has suggested the money raised could be used to fund additional public toilets.
Hina Bokhari of the Lib Dems wants to see the revenue support a struggling nightlife sector.
Mr Georgiou doubts that Mr Khan will spend the money raised effectively. He says he “cannot trust the mayor with more public money.”
But not all Conservatives agree with him.
The Tory deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Kim Taylor-Smith, says she is “absolutely in favour,” describing the tax as a “no brainer.”
