Hospitality leaders argue that children should be exempt from Wales’ upcoming tourism tax to support family visits.
Cardiff: Hospitality leaders in Wales are pushing for a change. They want the new tourism tax to exempt families with kids. This tax is set to start in 2027, and they think it could hurt family trips.
UKHospitality Cymru is leading the charge. They believe Wales should follow other European countries that don’t charge kids. For example, in France, kids under 18 are usually exempt. It just makes sense, right?
The proposed tax is £1.25 per night for most places. Camping spots and dorms would be cheaper at £0.75. But the worry is that this could cost Wales around £33 million a year in lost visitors.
David Chapman from UKHospitality Cymru says families on tight budgets might skip Wales for cheaper options. He argues that exempting kids would help keep family vacations alive in the country.
Interestingly, Bangor University says Wales will be the 25th country in Europe to have a visitor levy. Scotland has already taken similar steps. But some experts think the fears about tourism impacts are overblown.
Two academics suggest that the tax could be more flexible. They think it should include discounts for kids and even day visitors. Day tourists often spend less but still create traffic and other issues.
Exemptions for kids vary across Europe. In Portugal, kids under 13 are usually free. In Spain, it’s under 16. But in places like Germany and Greece, everyone pays. The Welsh Government did consider exemptions but worried about lost revenue.
They want to keep the tax simple, but UKHospitality Cymru is concerned about how the funds will be used. They want to ensure that the money goes back into tourism improvements, not just local budgets.
The Welsh Government insists this tax is crucial for sustainable tourism. They plan to keep rates low to help families, especially those staying in budget accommodations. They promise that any money raised will be reinvested locally.
In the end, it’s all about balancing the needs of families and the tourism sector. Everyone wants Wales to thrive as a family-friendly destination.
