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.'
