When you think of overcrowded beaches, the first place that comes to mind might not be the coastline of the UK, but three seaside resort towns on the country’s south coast are now following other crowded destinations around the world in implementing a tourist tax.
£2 a night per person
From 1 July 2024, a levy of £2 per room or unit, per night will be applied to tourist stays across the three Dorset towns. The move is being made as part of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole’s Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) and is expected to raise £12 million over the next five years, with the money generated going towards plans to enhance the local tourism offer.
Although strictly speaking local councils in the UK do not have the powers to levy such a tax, other destinations such as Manchester have found workarounds to allow them to go ahead.
Safeguarding events and the economy
A small majority of 16 out of 31 businesses voted in favour of the tax after a consultation period. ABID said the introduction of the fees would “safeguard the local economy” in the wake of budget slashes to local subsidies, including for the well-known annual air festival and the Blue Flag beach award scheme.
Local hotelier Rosie Radwell and shadow ABID board chair dubbed the tourist tax “good news for the destination”, and said, “we are thrilled that the accommodation providers have voted in favour.”
With the funds set to help events such as Bournemouth Air Festival, Arts by the Sea, Poole Christmas Maritime, and Christmas Tree Wonderland, they will “have a huge impact on the future of tourism in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole,” Radwell added. “We are excited about the future and have already started to plan projects and events to enhance tourism in the area”.
Summer holiday plans could be affected
Andy Lennox, Chair of the local destination management board, hailed the tax as a “historic moment for the towns” and Vikki Slade, leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council also welcomed the levy and the chance of strategic working with the board: “We are excited at the prospect of working alongside them to deliver a more productive and resilient visitor economy and destination management.”
However, the timing of the introduction of the tax a month before the school holidays means that anyone who plans to take their children to the Bournemouth area for a few days over the summer will be hit. It remains to be seen whether other seaside rivals, such as sunshine capital Eastbourne in East Sussex, will introduce similar schemes or instead seek to benefit from people looking to save money by avoiding the Bournemouth trio.
