Tourism tax 'risky economic move', says holiday let firm

Introducing a tourism tax in Wales would be a "very risky economic move" which could jeopardise jobs and businesses, the UK's largest holiday let provider has claimed.

Charging people extra for overnight stays would mean "taxing something you really want to encourage", said Ben Spier of Sykes Holiday Cottages.

The Welsh government wants people staying overnight in Wales to pay £1.30 plus VAT per night for hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation, and 80p plus VAT for hostels and campsites, possibly from 2027, if ed by the Senedd.

It said the levy could raise up to £33m per year to and improve tourism in local areas and that councils would choose whether to charge it.

The Welsh government said it believed "it is fair that everyone contributes towards the services they use".

Tourism employs nearly 160,000 people in Wales, and is thought to be worth between £3bn and £4bn to the economy.

Although children would be exempt from lower cost accommodation like camping, if approved, the levy would also apply to people who live in Wales.

Mr Spier, of Sykes, which has 22,500 UK properties including more than 4,000 in Wales, said: "I don't think a tourism levy necessarily says to visitors, 'you're not welcome'. But I think it's just pure economics. I just think it's a very risky economic move."

He added: "There is a risk of just making Wales that bit less competitive.

"We've seen the largest theme park in Wales close in the last few weeks because of increasing costs... is this really what you want to be putting a tax on":[]}