Liverpool has voted to implement a ‘tourist tax’ for overnight visitors.
The new City Visitor Charge will see guests staying at either hotels or serviced accommodation charged a £2 levy plus VAT per night from June 1 this year.
Several UK cities are exploring the European-style tax following Manchester’s decision to implement the measure in 2023, generating up to £2.8 million annually.
Up to 83 hoteliers and serviced apartment holders in the city were asked to vote on the proposal and returned a majority of 26-18, representing a 53% turnout.
All proceeds from the charge are set to go directly into the local visitor economy as well as improving the public domain with things such as street cleaning.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Culture and Visitor Economy, said: “The “Yes” vote for an extension of the BID to create a visitor charge is a great vote of confidence in the growth of our successful visitor economy. I want to thank all the businesses that participated in the ballot.
“Their positive support delivers a huge boost to Liverpool’s tourism sector and our major events programme, supporting jobs and investment to benefit local people, and showing how Liverpool continues to offer a warm welcome to visitors from around the world.
“This a positive step and lays solid foundations in our endeavour to formalise the establishment of a sustainable Tourism Tax, akin to what is being looked at in Glasgow and has already been introduced in other major European cities, which would be used to further strengthen our tourism offer.”