Title

FINANCE

Public backs tourism tax

More than half of people think councils should have the power to levy a tourism tax, a new survey has found.

More than half of people think councils should have the power to levy a tourism tax, a new survey has found.

The poll, conducted for the Local Government Association (LGA), found 53% of people believe their council should be able to charge tourists a small fee to pay for services.

Research has found that a pound-per-night levy could raise between £238,000 and more than £7m a year depending on the area.

Chair of the LGA's culture, tourism and sport board, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘Giving councils the ability to introduce a local tourism levy means they could reinvest some of the tax income generated by this tourism into their local area into the services that are attracting visitors.'

Last year, Edinburgh City Council voted in favour of introducing the UK's first tourist tax, with a £2 per night room charge.

FINANCE

Councils could face bill after legal clash

By Neil Merrick | 28 May 2026

At least 40 councils are waiting to discover if they need to repay money to housebuilders as more developers appeal against Community Infrastructure Levy (CI...

FINANCE

Fair Funding: Have rural councils in England really lost out?

By Gabriel Stewart | 26 May 2026

When it comes to spending power, urban councils will soar ahead of rural councils by 2028-29, according to LGA figures. But exclusive Institute for Fiscal St...

FINANCE

Bill 'first step' in fiscal devolution era

By Dan Peters | 13 May 2026

The Overnight Visitor Levy Bill is the ‘first step in a new era of fiscal devolution in England’, the Government has said.

FINANCE

The King's Speech must squeeze out more progress on climate

By Christopher Hammond | 11 May 2026

After a bruising local election, the King's Speech needs to bring local leaders and communities closer — not push them away, says Christopher Hammond.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman