NCC co-signs letter to the Chancellor ahead of Budget

The NCC has joined dozens of organisations in the tourism industry in signing a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, urging her not to introduce a tourism tax in England. 

Penned by the Tourism Alliance and delivered to the Treasury on Thursday, 20 November, the letter highlights the already difficult circumstances faced by businesses in our industry caused by inflationary pressures, increases to Employer National Insurance and the National Living Wage as well as business rates and energy costs. 

It explains that in order to reach the Government's own target of 50 million inbound visits, policy decisions that deter tourists and inflate prices should be avoided. 
It also adds that a levy, such as those that exist in Wales and Scotland, would create additional administrative burdens on accommodation providers and local authorities. 

Click here to read the letter in full. 

The suggestion that the Chancellor could be planning to introduce a 'tourist tax' first came from a report in The Times newspaper on Monday, 17 November. It suggested Rachel Reeves could grant Mayors the authority to introduce discretionary tourist levies in their areas, in a move similar to how the legislation has been implemented in both Wales and Scotland. 

The NCC remains opposed to any such levy and will continue to actively campaign on behalf of its members across the UK where this issue has affected them.