Manchester tourism tax 'disappointing' for pubs
This follows news Manchester is set to become the first city in the UK to impose a tourist tax for overnight visitors staying in hotels and holiday accommodation from Saturday 1 April.
According to reports earlier this week, visitors will pay an extra £1 charge per night, per room as part of a new scheme.
Extreme pressure
BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “It is disappointing that Manchester has decided to introduce a tourism tax.
“Hospitality businesses are already subject to high taxation, and the introduction of this new levy comes just as our sector is also facing extreme pressure from skyrocketing energy costs, rising prices and cost of living crisis.”
The new scheme, called the ‘City Visitor Charge’, has reportedly been predicted to raise around £3m per year.
Additional deterrents
This follows calls in December 2022 from UKHospitality (UKH) to drop the “added burden” of the proposed Visitor Levy in Wales, which the trade bodies executive director for Wales, David Chapman, stated would cause “collateral damage” for pubs and bars.
McClarkin added: “Pubs and breweries contribute hugely to tourism in cities across the country, drawing visitors from across the globe.
“Now is not the time to place additional deterrents on visitors that want to enjoy the hospitality that is the forefront of the UK’s tourism offer”.
