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Welsh tourist attractions are preparing to fly flags at half mast or even close their doors entirely in protest of the Welsh tourist tax.
ADVERTISEMENTSt David’s Day is just around the corner, and the perfect opportunity for a day out in Wales. But visitors to the country’s most popular attractions may be disappointed this weekend, as dozens choose to close in protest of the government’s proposed tourist tax.Organised by the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA), the protest is designed to highlight the impact the proposed tax will have on local people and businesses. According to WAVA spokesperson Ashford Price, around 100 plus businesses will either close completely on St David’s Day, Saturday 1 March, or fly the Welsh flag at half-mast. “Despite repeated efforts to engage through normal channels, our concerns have been ignored,” says Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism. “As a result, we are escalating our opposition and calling on businesses to join us in a symbolic gesture of lowering flags to half-mast, reflecting the profound damage to what was once one of Wales’ most stable and economically significant sectors.”The Welsh government has proposed a tax on visitors of £1.25 a night (€1.50), but with VAT on top, it comes out to £1.50 (€1.80). WAVA argues that this will deter visitors from coming to Wales and have a disproportionate impact on local people holidaying at home. While WAVA doesn’t specify which attractions will participate in the protest, it has over 100 members from all regions of Wales. Member organisations include popular attractions like Anglesey Sea Zoo, Zip World, Oakwood Theme Park and the Royal Mint Experience.What’s the problem with the proposed Welsh tourist tax?Tourist taxes have become commonplace in many of Europe’s most popular destinations. Councils and governments have introduced them in hopes of mitigating some of the impacts of overtourism. But WAVA says this is not relevant for Wales, which is experiencing fewer tourists than it has in the past.“Wales has recently lost 23 per cent of its overnight staying visitors,” says Price, “and I know of no attraction that is getting the figures that they had pre-COVID.”According to Welsh Government statistics, Wales received 892,000 visits in 2023, 13 per cent fewer than it had in 2019. Tourist spending was at £458 million (€553 million) in 2023, down 11 per cent from 2019. “Wales remains the only UK nation to not recover spend figures from 2019,” it says.But the problem is not only the impact a higher cost of visiting Wales will have on those coming from other countries. “Most people in Wales do not realise that they, too, will need to pay this tax,” says Price, “including babies and children.”According to Welsh government statistics, 21 per cent of people in Wales are living in relative income poverty. For children, that number rises to 29 per cent. Under the proposals, Welsh people holidaying in Wales will also need to pay the tourism tax. Around 60 per cent of Welsh people holiday in their home country, and account for three in 10 overnight stays.“I do not think Welsh people will be very happy when this tourism tax comes into force,” says Price. “If you have, and many do, three children and two adults in a tent, it will cost £52.50 (€63.40) to pay the tourism tax on top of your camping fees.”ADVERTISEMENTPrice further points out that, while tourism taxes are becoming common abroad, businesses in those countries enjoy lower VAT rates. In Wales, the VAT is 20 per cent.Why is Wales proposing a tourist tax?If brought in, Wales would become the first UK nation to introduce a blanket tourist tax. The government has headlined the reasons for the measure as part of its broader effort to support communities impacted by high visitor numbers and ensure tourism remains sustainable.Officially called a visitor levy, the proposed tax would be applied regionally, with councils deciding for themselves whether to introduce it. As well as using the funds to better manage tourism and the infrastructure needed to support it, the Welsh government has said the funds will be used to support the Welsh language, “particularly within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy.”ADVERTISEMENTThe proposed visitor levy is still in the consultation phase, with plans to introduce legislation in 2027.Is tourist tax the answer to overtourism?Europe’s 2024 was marked by an exponential rise in protests against overtourism. From the Canary Islands to Greece, local people took to the streets in anger and frustration at the ever-increasing numbers of visitors and the impact tourism has on housing, healthcare and services.Taxes on visitors are nothing new, with more than 60 destinations worldwide having such a levy in place. However, in response to overtourism, many more destinations are adding tourist taxes, or increasing the rates they charge. From street protests to an Airbnb ban, all the ways Barcelona said no to tourists in 2024ADVERTISEMENTNot everyone has been happy with the implementation of new taxation on tourists. In Italy, a proposed increase in tourist taxes has sparked opposition from the hospitality sector, with hotel and travel industry associations expressing concern over the proposed hike to €25. “We must tread very carefully,” Barbara Casillo, director of Italian hotel chain Confindustria Alberghi, told local media last year. “If we scare travellers who come to us by giving the impression that we want to take what we can, we are not doing a good service to the country.”In Venice, a daily tax was introduced as a response to overtourism. But residents collectively opposed it, claiming it turned Venice into an “amusement park” and arguing that the tax does not disincentivise anyone from visiting. The tax is still in place.In Thailand, a proposed tourist tax was scrapped after widespread protests against the idea from tourism businesses and the hospitality industry.ADVERTISEMENTThe closure of Wales’ attractions and flags at half mast is designed to have an impact on the outcome of the Wales tourist tax proposals. For visitors, the advice is to check before you travel whether the attraction you plan to visit is open.
