Wales tourism tax comparison to sunny European countries branded 'nonsense'

North Wales Live readers have been expressing their views on our comments section about the recent announcement that children will be exempt from certain aspects of the Welsh tourism tax , while others will face higher charges. The tax, designed to generate extra revenue to improve visitor experiences and local services, has faced criticism from various sectors. Under-18s will not have to pay the Welsh tourism tax when staying in hostels, campsites or outdoor centres in Wales.

This decision was announced in the Senedd this week, but it means that other visitors will face a higher overall rate. Everyone else's charges will rise by 5p per night. If the bill passes through the Senedd, an overnight stay in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation could cost an additional £1.



30 per person before VAT. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites. There were worries that a nightly charge of 75p would make school trips unaffordable for low-income families.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford stated that after reconsidering the evidence, under 18s staying at lower level accommodation "would now be exempt altogether" from the Visitor Levy. From 2027 at the earliest, the 22 Welsh councils will have the power to decide whether to introduce a local levy. Senedd members have given the green light to the proposed tourism tax bill after a debate on April 1.

The impact assessment suggests that if all councils adopt the levy, it could generate an estimated £264m by 2035, but at a cost of between £313m and £576m. This is what our readers had to say on the hot topic with, ThePickledLiver raising concerns: " So the popularity campaign rolls on. And besides, as this is a government levy, why is it subject to VAT at all? Neither goods nor service is being provided to the payer - this should be either exempt or out-of-scope for VAT.

" Indigodebz believes: "It’s a complete nonsense to compare Wales with European cities especially as far as tourism tax is concerned. It’s way cheaper to eat out, entrance fees are less and parking is usually cheaper or public transport is very affordable for tourists. Also they tend to charge where there is over-tourism.

If anywhere suffers here with over-tourism it’s not for many weeks of the year. Why aren’t static caravan owners being included?" Howonearth says: "They should focus on bringing well paid jobs to central and north Wales to stop the exodus of young people. Not tax tax tax.

" Robredz asks: "Will this apply to homeless people staying in hotels placed there by the council as in the council taxing itself? Similarly if Clearwater or Serco house asylum seekers in a hotel will it apply to them also?" Keano60 adds: "The Senedd will say you pay this tax in countries like Greece already. Which is true, however it's sunny there, no ridiculous taxes on booze, no carpet 20mph silly speed limits. Plenty of free toilets, eat whatever we like with meal deal .

Oh and 100% chance of sunshine for the entire trip. So I'll go there or perhaps England which apart from weather is more appealing. Well done Senedd more control and less appeal for our country yet again.

" Jnrm points out: "Unlike Greece, 75% of visitors to N Wales are day-trippers who wont pay the tax!" Verbatim says: "Think how much Welsh tax payers would save without having to fund the self-serving Senedd." Jnrm thinks: "To generate sufficient income to improve the visitor experience, the tax rates will have to rise to about £3.50 per night.

Therefore a family of four staying at a hotel for 7 nights will pay an additional £98 in tourist tax." Statistix questions: "Please, please, please will some one explain how 'raising a small levy would improve the visitor experience and services for people living in an area all year round', when it will cost those same people more to produce the 'small levy' than it will raise? Is the inability to understand simple sums a pre-requisite of the job for Labour and Plaid MSs? "So this is absolute proof that the tourist tax (a bed tax) has already been spent, else why would there be a 'shortfall' if children staying in what Drakeford calls 'lower level accommodation' don't pay, and why would others have to make up this 'shortfall'? Disingenuous." Joebloggs999 believes: "Only the Welsh government could come up with a tax that will cost mega bucks to collect,will cost locals more in increased council tax no doubt!" So will the visitor levy, help or hinder tourism in Wales? Join in the conversation HERE or in the comments below.

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