Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb-style stays under new plans

Many mayors welcome power to impose tourist tax but industry warns of ‘irreparable harm’ and job losses

Holidaymakers will face a nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb-style stays across large parts of England in a move welcomed by many mayors but described as risking “irreparable harm” to the tourism industry.

Regions across England will be able to charge an uncapped “tourist tax” on overnight stays to potentially generate tens of millions of pounds that would then be spent in those areas.