Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Morning Headlines email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Holidaymakers travelling to Cornwall should pay a daily tourist tax, it’s been suggested to the region’s council - with hoteliers welcoming the idea.
Cornwall attracts 12 million day visitors every year, but the council says a spike over the summer months leads to popular sites such as St Ives and Newquay becoming overrun with a reduction in air quality, heavy demand on services and congestion.
As a result, Cornwall Council has launched a councillor-led inquiry aimed at improving the year-round benefits of tourism while supporting locals with well-paid employment and community services.
Some of the ideas put foward at a council meeting on 9 January included urging the government to stagger school holidays and bringing in a registration scheme for short-term Airbnb-style holiday lets.
Another was a tourist tax, with councillor Mike Thomas, a former school teacher, calling for the option to be taken more seriously.
RECOMMENDED
Trump’s alleged ‘sexual proclivities’ graphically detailed in new Epstein documents
Undo
Russian billionaire who bought Trump’s mansion blames Sotheby’s after losing millions
Undo
YourPennySaver
US Residents Birthed Before 1976 Now Entitled To These "Ridiculous" Benefits In JanuaryYourPennySaver| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
GundryMD
MD: If You Have Dark Spots, Do This Immediately (It's Genius!)GundryMD| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
Pubs and hotels in Newquay are often filled during the summer months
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/10/17/SEI107846083.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/10/17/SEI107846083.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/10/17/SEI107846083.jpg" data-gallery-length="3" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" pinger-seen="true">
Pubs and hotels in Newquay are often filled during the summer months
(Getty Images)
“In terms of a tourist tax, which in my opinion hasn’t been referenced enough,” he said, as reported by the BBC’s Local Democracy Service.
Promoted stories
New Mazda CX50
Mazda CX50 Is A True Head Turner (You'll Double Take At The Price)New Mazda CX50
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
“There’s a fear that people will be against it. Manchester has demonstrated that people will not be negative when it’s actually put in place - ￡1 a night per person up to a maximum of 21 nights would bring in revenue that people in this Duchy would feel was paying for the facilities that people visiting are using.”
Tourist taxes are common in countries such as Canada, Spain, Germany, Belgium and France. On 10 January, Greece announced it would begin applying a climate levy to visitors to build up funds for natural disasters.
In the UK, taxes have been introduced in April and Manchester in April last year with the schemes run by local business improvement districts. Last year, the idea was aired for St Ives by the town’s mayor.
Arnaud Reutsch, owner of the Blue Seas Hotel in Penzance and member of The Penzance and District Hotel and Restaurant Association, told The Independent a tourist tax would helpthe region.
Due to the quiet winter season, the 62-year-old closes his eight-bed hotel from October to March with summer takings paying for the year. But this means his part-time workers are not needed for six months of the year.
The scene in the summer is often in contrast to the winter when businesses and restaurants close
(Getty Images)
He said: “I think the tourist tax is a good idea, but any money must be ringfenced for the local area and not sent to London. I really don’t think people would be put off by paying an extra ￡1 a night when they are paying around ￡120 to ￡130 a night.
“This area does rely so much on tourism that outside the summer months it can feel very quiet - so support for that period through this could be a real help while not making a big difference to visitors’ cost.”
In Cornwall, the sudden surge of summer visitors has also resulted in a housing problem due to the rise of Airbnb and second-home properties leaving a lack of available and affordable places for locals.
However, the council inquiry noted that almost one in five people in Cornwall relied on tourism jobs, mostly in accommodation and food and drink, and Visit Cornwall estimates tourism is worth more than ￡1billion a year to the region.
Figures also show the area is becoming more popular with 1.1 million overnight trips in August 2021, compared to 1 million in August 2019. There were also 2 million day trips in July 2021, compared to 1.4 million in July 2019.
But the council report said: “Our popularity, especially in the peak period, also brings with it negative impacts to our communities such as reduction in air quality, environmental degradation at popular sites, increased demand on services and congestion.”
It added: “This seasonality has a significant negative impact on our economy and the productivity of the sector as it encourages seasonal and part-time employment.”
More about tourist tax Cornwall council Visitors air quality inquiry Tourism Newquay St Ives
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 3Cornwall holidaymakers should pay daily tourism tax, council told
Cornwall holidaymakers should pay daily tourism tax, council told
Pubs and hotels in Newquay are often filled during the summer months
Getty Images
Cornwall holidaymakers should pay daily tourism tax, council told
The scene in the summer is often in contrast to the winter when businesses and restaurants close
Getty Images
Cornwall holidaymakers should pay daily tourism tax, council told
Holidaymakers fill the beach in Newquay - but an inquiry report by Cornwall Council says a spike in visitors can have a negative impact
Getty Images
CCPA Notice Promoted stories
Health Insight Journal
Revolutionary Device Leaves Neuropathy Field IntriguedHealth Insight Journal| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Solar Improvements
California: Do This Instead Of Buying Expensive Solar Panels (It's Genius)Solar Improvements| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
WellnessGuide
Tinnitus Discovery Leaves Doctors Speechless (Try Tonight)WellnessGuide| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn more
Undo
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in