Angela Rayner must make tourist tax decision to end agony for UK seaside towns

Angela Rayner needs to act over Britain’s first coastal tourist tax or popular seaside towns will be at risk of going downhill, a group has said.

Hoteliers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole gave the levy a green light in May, but more than 40 hotels then lodged an appeal with the government.

The Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) wants to introduce the scheme which would require guests staying in larger hotels to pay £2 more per room, per night.

ABID was hoping to see the levy introduced in the autumn, following the outcome of the appeal, but the group is still waiting for Ms Rayner to make a decision.

When the levy was approved, ABID said it would strengthen the towns’ tourist offer, estimating £12million would be raised over five years.

The group said the money would be poured into helping maintain the towns and putting on events aimed at attracting visitors in a bid to boost local businesses.

Rosie Radwell, who chairs ABID, told Express.co.uk: “Nothing is happening. The Secretary of State has had it on her desk for months. We’re waiting for a response as to whether we can start collecting [the levy] or not.

“Lots of hotels are for this… The problem is if we don’t get a levy, we have nothing in our area – no events for next year to promote.”

She pointed to doubts as to whether Bournemouth Air Festival would go ahead next year after the local authority confirmed it wouldn’t fund it, as well as the council’s closing its tourism department and plan to relinquish responsibility for the towns’ promotional websites.

Ms Radwell added: “We’re chomping at the bit. We need to have business next year… Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are beautiful areas, but if we don’t look after them and no money comes in, then they’re just going to go downhill, and that’s exactly what we don’t want.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We are aware of the appeal and will seek to provide a judgement as soon as possible to ensure a fair decision is made.”

They added the decision wouldn’t review or endorse ABID’s proposal, with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council ultimately deciding whether the levy goes ahead or is suspended, following the appeal.

BCP Council said it wants locals to have more say in how to boost the towns’ economies and encourages people and groups to get more involved in their futures.

Richard Herrett, a local councillor responsible for destination, leisure and commercial operations at BCP Council, said: “We are doing all we can to support Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as a place for tourists as well as for residents, and we very much value our destination industry.

“Like many other councils, we must prioritise delivering services that meet the needs of our residents and ensure we financially live within our means.”

He added the local authority is waiting for the outcome of the Government’s review of the ballot and it would continue to work with the hospitality and tourism industry once the outcome is confirmed.

Hoteliers opposed to the ballot have argued previously that the levy was rushed and would deter visitors from the area.

Emma Russell of Leisureplex Hotels told the BBC in July the levy would cost her hotel up to £60,000 per year, adding: “Customers were already saying, ‘We’ll go elsewhere’. It really won’t do any favours for Bournemouth’s visitor numbers. Let’s get round the table and come up with something more commercially practical.”

She also told the broadcaster the levy would be “disproportional” because it would only be paid by the 75 largest hotels.

But Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research at Bournemouth University Business School, defended the levy, explaining that it differs to others introduced in tourist hotspots overseas because it is being driven by business leaders in response to straitened public finances.

He said: “They’re just trying to improve the tourist experience so in that sense it’s a fair thing to do. Two pounds is not a lot of money… Some hoteliers are saying they don’t want to take more money from customers, but if you don’t offer a beautiful environment, people will go somewhere else.”