The new fee will help to fund the government’s aim to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050. It’s been a long time coming, but Wales is shaping up to become the first country in the UK to introduce a nationwide tourist tax. Details released yesterday (Monday) indicate that the levy will add £1.
25 (€1.50) per night to the price of accommodation in Wales, or £0.75 (€0.
90) for visitors staying on campsites and in hostels. The tax won’t be universally applied across Wales. Rather, different regional councils will decide for themselves whether to introduce the levy in their area.
Some exemptions have been noted too, including when lodging with family or staying for an extended period. First floated in 2018, a public consultation for the proposed tourist tax was held in 2022. Once it’s officially passed into law by the national parliament, the new Welsh tourist tax is expected to come into force in 2027.
Taxes on visitors are nothing new, but efforts have significantly ramped up in recent years. As long ago as 1910, France introduced its ‘taxe de séjour,’ becoming the first country in the world to do so. Today, more than 60 destinations around the world have such a tax in place, including , Amsterdam and, since April, .
In most cases, the proceeds from such taxes are used to fund specific projects or events, market the destination, or diversify the economy of areas reliant on tourist cash. But Wales has another plan for its winnings, and it’s about protecting .