UK city to introduce first tourist tax in the country from next month

A UK CITY is introducing a tourist tax – the first in the country to do so.

Manchester has confirmed that any overnight guests will have to pay £1 a night, per room, as part of the new scheme.

2

Starting from April 1, the charge will apply to anyone staying in hotels in the city centre.

The money will go towards the Manchester Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) as part of an improvement programme over the next five years.

It is estimated that the tourist tax will raise as much as £3million a year, with around 74 hotels and guesthouses already signed up for the scheme.

Annie Brown, first chair of the ABI, told Manchester Evening News: “I think [the message it sends] has been a consideration, however when you compare it to European cities that have had taxes and visitor levies in place for a number of years, we feel it’s a small amount comparatively.

“There are other cities in the UK looking to put in place what Manchester has done, I don’t think it’s a charge that’s off-putting.”

If you fancy a cheap stay, we have rounded up the best cheap hotels in Manchester on TripAdvisor.

And while Manchester is the first city in the UK to do so, others have suggested they could follow suit.

Bath and Oxford have suggested they could one day introduce a tourist tax, while Edinburgh could soon be charging tourists £2 a night to stay.

Even Wales is considering a tourist tax, although haven’t confirmed how much it could be.

And abroad, places like Venice and Barcelona already have tourist taxes in place.

Barcelona tourists have to pay €4 a night, although this is rising by 50 cents next month.

And Venice could soon charge up to €10 for anyone visiting for the day, while a current tourist tax up to €5 is in place.

Earlier this year, Thailand introduced a tourist tax too.

Here are some other holiday hotspots where Brits have to pay a tourist tax.

2