“Charging holidaymakers more to experience the natural beauty of our moors, our rolling hills, our seas and beaches, our towns and villages, knowing it was helping these very communities to thrive after they are gone is such a small price to ask.” [editor: Herald Express]
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At the end of last month, the Herald reported on how the county’s tourism boss has backed the ‘Cornish tax’ – and says Devon needs it:
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, admits the idea of implementing a tourist tax upon visitors to the area is a concept he can ‘certainly envision’ in the future. Malcolm said he believed it ‘could work’ – but argued Cornwall shouldn’t stand alone – and other holiday hotspots such as their Devon neighbours needed to do it too. And he said the decision shouldn’t be ‘rushed’ to ensure the proceeds are properly invested – and the tourism industry itself doesn’t suffer.
Devon Live also reported on how the Tourism boss says Devon could follow Venice in introducing a ‘visitor tax’:
Malcolm, a key figure in the discussion, has emphasised the need for careful consideration of the decision, involving businesses and other partners. He disclosed that talks are already taking place with the Cornwall community foundation and National landscapes, south west coastal paths. “But even if we end up avoiding the tourism tax, we should look at the rationale about why people are calling for one,” he added. He also pointed out that the UK is already one of the highest-taxed visitor economies in Europe, second only to France. He questioned the practicality of a Cornwall-specific tourist tax, stating: “There is no point in Devon not having one and us having one.”
Since then, it’s been quite a spectacle to see the capital reporting on how Londoners may soon have to pay a ‘tax’ to visit Cornwall and Devon with Time Out declaring that Cornwall and Devon could be the next UK destinations to charge tourist taxes and even GB News pointing out that you could soon be TAXED for visiting Cornwall and Devon.
Today, the editor of the Herald Express considers why a Devon ‘Tourist Tax’ is an idea worth exploring and writes that people who travel abroad to major European cities will often see a tourism surcharge added to hotel bills and it is routinely paid without a fuss – and that it wouldn’t be too far a stretch to have a similar charge applied to accommodations in Devon:
Charging holidaymakers more to experience the natural beauty of our moors, our rolling hills, our seas and beaches, our towns and villages, knowing it was helping these very communities to thrive after they are gone is such a small price to ask.
How to collect such a tax is another matter. People who travel abroad to major European cities will often see a tourism surcharge added to hotel bills and it is routinely paid without a fuss. Therefore it wouldn’t be too far a stretch to have a similar charge applied to accommodation here. Equally, special surcharges could be levied at visitor attractions, from which locals would be exempt.…
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