Tourists visiting Cornwall and Devon could face new tourist tax to save seaside towns

A tourism boss has backed the idea of a tax for holidaymakers coming to Cornwall – but says Devon would need one as well.

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, admits the idea of implementing a tourist tax upon visitors to the area is a concept he can ‘certainly envision’ in the future.

Malcolm said he believed it ‘could work’ – but argued Cornwall shouldn’t stand alone – and other holiday hotspots such as their Devon neighbours needed to do it too.

And he said the decision shouldn’t be ‘rushed’ to ensure the proceeds are properly invested – and the tourism industry itself doesn’t suffer.

Malcom, who was born in Cornwall and has Cornish family roots going back to at least the 1700s, said: “We have observed how fast decisions are often very poor decisions. It is a time to have the debate, not rush into action, engage with people and look at the art of the possible. We must make sure it is not burdened with administrative costs and helps to manage the situation we are facing and improve it.”

“It needs to be very carefully considered, and the decision should involve businesses and other partners, we are already talking to the Cornwall community foundation and National landscapes, south west coastal paths. But even if we end up avoiding the tourism tax, we should look at the rationale about why people are calling for one.”

Malcolm says the UK is already the second highest tax visitor economy in Europe – but if a specific tourist tax were to be implemented, it would have to be for more than just Cornwall.

He added: “There is no point in Devon not having one and us having one. Something to consider is there is already a tourist tax as over 30% of visitors spend goes into tax. We’re the second highest tax visitor economy in Europe: in France you pay 5.5 percent, whereas here we pay 20 percent.

“The normal argument would be we need some distribution of the money that already goes to the majesty’s treasury to instead go back into local levels. Given the national finances, we see the need to pay more into defense, the NHS, social services, we have to be realistic.”

The high level of tourism across Cornwall not only takes its toll on the community, but also its surrounding environment. A Cornwall committee report highlighted that Cornwall gets around four million holiday visits and around 12 million day visitors per year, which is reflected in the value of the sector to the economy.

Malcolm says this figure shows that holidaymakers want the local surroundings to be looked after – and environmental services to protect the areas and its wildlife would benefit from the tax.

And he added he would like to see the levy look after the environment and consider the communities.

He said: “The preference would be if the levy is well developed with the community and businesses – where visitors are comfortable to pay a very small amount to help go back into Cornwall.”

One factor Malcolm deems equally as important is if the levy would be implemented, is ensuring the transparency over how the new tax money is being spent and where exactly it is going.

Malcolm said he believes holidaymakers would react more compliantly in paying the tax in the first place if they know this money is going directly back into Cornwall and its communities and environment – they will be more compliant.

He said: “We have 85 percent repeat business in Cornwall – holidaymakers who regularly return would want the levy to help Cornwall and its residents. If holidaymakers want to contribute, if they think it’s going to the right cause, I wouldn’t mind.

“That to me means yes they would be pleased to see that – if they know where it is going. People are cynical and want reassurance that their extra payment is going on something that is appropriate. But if it is just another levy added onto VAT and taxes? That is probably not what people want to see.”

Another factor Malcolm discusses is if the levy was to raise a significant sum of money, where would it go but also would it mean the Government pay less money to the county because they would be ‘raising their own taxes’.

“A blunt tourism tax worries me”, says the business owner, who has lived in Cornwall for over 45 years and 20 years in Plymouth.

He said: “If this tourism tax raised a load of money, the Government must give us less – I hate to be a cynic, but you have to think it through carefully. How much of it is going to go on administration?”

Malcolm explains how this money could go into a “big black whole for the public sector” – which does not “make it better for the community.”

“We need to debate about how we get the balance right in tourism and what fiscal or financial system it might need to be considered. It is impetus to say we don’t care, implement the tax and then become completely overrun with holidaymakers.”

He argues that neither Cornwall Council nor the Government have any intention of implementing the tax – and the tourist tax that has been rolled out in Manchester from April last year cannot be applicable to the South West.

Malcolm explained: “We are looking in the very early stages of what Manchester has done and saying how can it apply to Cornwall businesses.”

Since April 1, 2023, Manchester introduced a tourist tax which has seen a £1 charge added to the cost of a room per night. The tax is capped at 21 successive days.

Though the tourism boss said: “Manchester have introduced a charge per night, but it is a business improvement district legislation. We have hotels, catering, holiday parks – whereas they have hotels – so their model doesn’t work here. Perhaps it could work down here but a huge consideration should be can it give our community, its products and our environment?

“Let’s have some positive interaction and dialogue around it. We might conclude the tax is not right or appropriate and the cost of the implementation itself is too much. So I could conceive it, but the levy should be considered across the community, there is a lot to consider.”