Today [08/07/25], in the Senedd, Stage 4 of the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill will be voted on.
Ashford Price Membership Secretary of WAVA said –
I have never in my 45 years of operating in Welsh tourism felt such anger and despair expressed in a
meeting by operators at the way tourism is being treated by the present Welsh Government.
During the tourist season the largest visitor survey so far carried out on the ‘tourism tax issue’ was
organised at various WAVA attraction sites throughout Wales.
This confirmed that many tourists will boycott Wales when this tax is introduced. (See Below).
1,926 holiday makers were asked the following questions –
“Would you pay a visitor tax in order to holiday in Wales?
74% of holiday makers said NO.
The survey also asked visitors “Would they spend less during their holiday if they had to pay these
Welsh taxes”.
56% replied they would spend less.
What the survey also showed was that Welsh people did not realise that they would also have to
pay a tourism tax for the privilege of holidaying in their own country.
When asked “Do you realise that soon you could be paying a tourism tax if you holiday in Wales?”.
78% of Welsh people said NO.
Incredible as it seems Welsh people really will have to pay this tax for holidaying in their own
country!
It was correctly described at the WAVA meeting as the ‘Welsh Poll tax’.
However, if Welsh people holiday in England they will not have to pay a tourism tax thus making
their holiday in England cheaper.
This proposed tourism tax will therefore put Welsh tourism at a price disadvantage when compared
to other devolved regions, especially at a time when there is a cost-of-living crisis, and a recession
forecast.
If this Welsh tax is based on similar levies of EU countries that have a tourism tax it could add up to a
further £70 for a family for six nights staying at a hotel.
It should also be noted that tourists that spend a night in Wales normally spend around £180 per day
on their visit, but a day visitor spends only £30. Hence, this tax will hit the very tourists who are
already supporting Wales to the hilt, and the Welsh tourism industry.
However, this tax will also be charged for those staying in a tent, caravan site, and self-catering
complexes. N.B. A quarter of all Welsh self-catering bookings are made by Welsh people!
The above confirms fears held by many that Welsh tourism is now being run on a Soviet styled
system where ‘politburo laws’ are imposed from ‘on high’ with no regard to any proper consultative
process, or the unintended consequences that will sadly follow. e.g. fewer visitors, less tourism jobs
and investments put on hold.
Further proof as to the above is found in The Welsh Governments recent tourism tax ‘consultation
document’ sent to all Welsh tourism operators. This document is a complete ‘farce’.
The much vaulted ‘consultative document’ only seeks clarification on the way this tax might be
collected, with exceptions amazingly suggested by the Welsh Government for travelling folk.
There is nothing in this document relating to whether this tax is a feasible idea for Wales. No
questions to facilitate the exchange of ideas as to whether this will be a good or a bad tax for
tourism are to be found in this document.
The Welsh Government makes much play in their official communications that some EU countries
have a tourism tax already e.g., France and Spain, but what they do not say is that in both these
countries they have a much lower level of VAT at 10%, not the 20% as in Britain.
Many in the meeting also felt that senior tourism members who represent the industry, and then
meet or correspond with Ministers are no longer being listened to, and their advice is now being
completely ignored”.
Ashford Price. Membership Secretary of WAVA.
Chairman. Dan Yr Ogof Caves. Mobile. 07989 855 313.
Notes to Editors.
For many years tourism has been Wales second largest industry with a turnover of 6 billion, and a
quarter of all VAT registered businesses are now in the visitor economy. I in 7 Welsh jobs are in
tourism.
The Tourism Tax will be £1.30 per person per night in a hotel in Wales, but can be increased by councils, given the provision of an unlimited “premium which may be added” [pg36 Explanatory Memorandum].
The Welsh Conservatives oppose the concept of a Tourism Tax and will vote against it as they have at every stage. The tax will come into force in 2027 and so the Welsh Conservatives are committing to axing the tax before it takes effect, given the opportunity, following the 2026 Senedd election.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Sam Rowlands MS said:
“Today’s decision sets in motion a hammer blow that will hit an already struggling Welsh tourism sector in 2027.
“Labour and Plaid’s toxic Tourism Tax, according to the Welsh Government’s own figures, will harm the economy to the tune of tens of millions of pounds and hundreds of jobs every single year.
“Not only will we vote against it as we have at every stage, but given the opportunity, the Welsh Conservatives will axe the toxic Tourism Tax before it comes into force.”
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