Title

POLICY

Call for tourism tax to help reverse austerity

The introduction of a tourist tax would help reverse austerity’s ‘heavy toll’ on councils, the Autonomy Institute think-tank has claimed.

© Balate.Dorin/Shutterstock

© Balate.Dorin/Shutterstock

The introduction of a tourist tax would help reverse austerity's ‘heavy toll' on councils, the Autonomy Institute think-tank has claimed.

In a report, the think-tank argued the implementation of visitor levies would be a ‘sensible first step' in helping councils manage tourism.

The push for a tourist tax has previously been backed by a coalition of UK mayors, but chancellor Rachel Reeves is said to oppose the levy.

Calling on the Government to allow councils to introduce charges on hotel visits, the think-tank suggested the move would simultaneously ‘enrich communities that rely on tourism' and discourage ‘harmful overtourism'.

The report read: ‘Such a tax would begin to undo the heavy toll that UK Government austerity has heaped upon councils over the last decade.'

 

POLICY

Stronger devo can solve the London problem

By Patrick Diamond | 23 September 2025

Relationships between the capital and Whitehall may have improved but its underpowered mayoralty requires urgent fiscal and planning autonomy, argue Jack Sha...

POLICY

Getting fiscal devolution right

By Luke Raikes | 28 August 2025

Luke Raikes says local tax powers can help revive the places Whitehall abandoned, and he proposes three quick wins the Government could move forward with imm...

POLICY

A taxing dilemma

By Paul Marinko | 27 August 2025

Councils calling for council tax reform should be careful what they wish for, writes Paul Marinko

POLICY

Not zero: Core cities admit they will fail to hit ambitious climate targets

By Dan Peters | 07 August 2025

Core cities have called for billions of pounds of investment to transition to net zero after admitting they will fail to hit their ambitious targets.

Popular articles by Izzy Lepone