The boss of a business running major visitor attractions across the country has raised concerns about plans for a new tourist tax.
CEO of York-based Continuum Attractions Andrew Pawson says it is ‘layering on costs’ at a time when the industry faces economic challenges.
Mr Pawson was speaking after York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith pushed ahead with plans to introduce a visitor levy.
He says a tax of £2 per night for every visitor staying in the area could raise £52 million a year, and “drive investment into our communities”.
Hospitality Association York said last week that charges could put potential visitors off – leading to fewer shifts and jobs in the industry.
Continuum last week revealed it had bought living history museum Eden Camp to add to a portfolio which also includes York’s Chocolate Story, The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh, The Loch Ness Centre and Oxford Castle & Prison.
Speaking on the Late Show on YorkMix Radio last night, Mr Pawson said the tourism industry “has in the past been relatively robust when it’s come to economic challenges, because it’s that treat economy.
“It’s that ability to go somewhere like Eden Camp or York’s Chocolate Story – treat yourself to something on a weekend that isn’t hugely expensive, but feels like you’ve spent your day well.
“But we are feeling it in terms of the squeeze on the purse, and people’s ability to have that secondary spend. Spending in our shops, spending in our food and beverage establishments, you see that being impacted.
“What we are managing to do incredibly well is being able to package that up in a way that is remains attractive, and I like to think good value for money.”
Given the squeeze, the tourism tax is a challenge. “It may not sound a lot of money to say it’s an extra pound a night for an individual, and you see that visitor levy in Europe more often than not,” he told David Dunning
“But we’re an expensive country in the UK, and probably one of the most expensive countries to visit, so it’s just another layer of cost that does then impact on not just us, but also all of those peripheral services – your taxi driver, your restaurants.
“Will you choose to go out every night? Will you choose to stay an extra night? All of those things come into that mix when you start layering on costs.”
Mr Skaith says he is focused on getting any potential future charges right after speaking with more than 100 York and North Yorkshire businesses.
- You can listen to Andrew Pawson’s full interview with David Dunning by going to the Listen Again section and clicking on the show
