- Mayors across England are advocating for the devolution of powers to local authorities to implement visitor levies on overnight stays, aiming to boost tourist infrastructure and regional growth.
- The proposed visitor levy, similar to those in Scotland and Wales, would involve a small charge on overnight accommodations, with Liverpool City Region estimating it could generate nearly £11 million annually.
- Mayors argue that these levies would unlock vital funding for tourism and cultural infrastructure, reducing dependence on central government funding.
- While cities like Liverpool and Manchester have introduced tourism-based Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) as a workaround, they seek devolved powers to create legally-backed visitor levies.
- The campaign is supported by mayors from Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, London, the North East, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire, who collectively attract millions of visitors and contribute billions to the UK economy.
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