Cornwall Council has raised the prospect of a £25m bed tax by charging visitors to the county and extra £1 a night. This isn't the first time such a tax has been suggested.
In fact, only last week, British Hospitality Association (BHA) chief executive Ufi Ibrahim took to the pages of Caterer & Hotelkeeper to campaign against a similar idea raised by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.
But what are your thoughts on the Cornwall idea? Is it a price worth paying to boost council coffers, or will it damage tourism to the region?
There will be more news on this in the coming issue of Caterer & Hotelkeeper, so if you want your voice heard, comment on this thread!
The hospitality industry already suffers from a skewed VAT playing field across Europe, with dear old us at the bottom of the slope struggling to climb up. [5.5% in France and similar in Germany.....pah!]
A bed tax just serves to widen the gap even further.
Here in Oxfordshire, it is, I believe, pretty well recognised that the Tourism industry has good potential to kick start recovery, replace lost Public Sector jobs, and generally help pull this County up by the bootstraps. But we can't do it on our own....the last few years have weakened us. The recognition has to be converted into supportive action and by that I do NOT mean further taxation, be it local or central. Taxation never strengthened any business.
All I ever hear is Government saying "we're going to reduce red tape", quickly followed by "ooooh we're a bit short at the moment...so I know let's have a bed tax...or .......good idea to put another 2.5% VAT [that one cost me dear in January and February]
There are jobs to be created in our industry, there are visitors who will spend more in the wider local economy. Give us a break Mr Government....and we will do our bit for you. You will get your tax back, and more, in abundance when we start growing again.
Anthony Lloyd
Fallowfields Hotel and Restaurant, Oxfordshire
www.fallowfields.com
It looks like it is not just Cornwall where there is sympathy for this idea:
http://travel.aol.co.uk/2011/06/13/now-brighton-considers-1-a-night-tourist-tax/?icid=main|uk|dl4|link5|http://travel.aol.co.uk/2011/06/13/now-brighton-considers-1-a-night-tourist-tax/