From April 1, 2023, tourists staying overnight in Manchester will be subject to a new tourist tax. This new levy has been introduced to help fund local services and support the city’s tourism industry.
The tax, which is also known as a bed tax or a tourist levy, will be charged at a rate of £1 per night for each guest staying in a hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast or short-term rental property. The tax will be collected by the accommodation provider and passed on to the city council.
The tourist tax has been welcomed by many in the tourism industry as a way of helping to fund improvements to local infrastructure and services. Manchester has seen a significant increase in tourism in recent years, with the city attracting over 1 million visitors each year. This has put pressure on local services such as public transport and waste management, and the new tax will help to address this issue.
However, not everyone is happy about the new tax. Some accommodation providers have raised concerns that it will make Manchester less competitive as a tourist destination. They argue that tourists will be put off by the extra cost and will choose to stay elsewhere. This could have a negative impact on the local economy, as tourists contribute significantly to the city’s income.
Despite these concerns, many other cities in the UK and around the world already have a tourist tax in place. Edinburgh, for example, has had a tourist tax since 2017, which is charged at a rate of £2 per night. Other cities, such as Paris, Berlin and Rome, also have a tourist tax, which is charged at a rate of between 1 and 5 euros per night.
The introduction of the tourist tax in Manchester has been carefully considered, with the city council working closely with local businesses and the tourism industry to ensure that it is implemented in a fair and effective way. The tax is expected to raise around £7 million per year, which will be used to fund a range of projects to improve the city’s infrastructure and services.
These projects could include improvements to public transport, the development of new cycle routes, the installation of public Wi-Fi hotspots and the creation of new public spaces. The money raised could also be used to support local businesses, by funding marketing campaigns and other initiatives to attract more tourists to the city.
Overall, the introduction of the tourist tax in Manchester is a positive step towards ensuring that the city’s tourism industry remains sustainable and supports local services. While some may be concerned about the impact on the local economy, it is important to remember that many other cities have successfully implemented a tourist tax without causing any significant harm to their tourism industry.
Tourists visiting Manchester should be aware of the new tax and factor it into their travel plans. While it may add a small extra cost to their stay, they can rest assured that their money will be going towards improving the city and supporting the local economy.
