The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has issued a warning about the potential introduction of new local visitor levies in England, cautioning that such measures could further weaken the UK's travel and tourism industry. The WTTC, representing the private sector, argues that these levies would add costs and create fragmented local policies, potentially restricting job creation and reducing the UK's competitiveness at a time when the sector is already lagging behind global recovery.

The UK government is currently consulting on proposals to empower Mayoral Strategic Authorities to introduce overnight visitor levies. According to WTTC analysis, the UK is underperforming compared to global peers, with the country's travel and tourism GDP expected to grow by only 4.3% in 2025, significantly below the global average of 6.7%. The WTTC highlights that these charges would disproportionately affect small and medium-sized enterprises, including small hotels, restaurants, and local shops.

Travel and tourism support approximately 4.5 million jobs in the UK, emphasising the sector's critical role in employment and regional growth. However, new levies could deter tourists, who may choose destinations without such charges. The UK already ranks poorly for price competitiveness, placing 113th out of 119 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index.

Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, stated, "New visitor levies in the UK would dent growth, restrict job creation and risk making the country far less competitive in the global economy." The WTTC advises against introducing new levies and urges policymakers to focus on enhancing the UK's competitiveness by reducing visitor costs and ensuring effective reinvestment of tourism-generated revenues.

Without such measures, the WTTC warns that new levies could slow growth, reduce visitor numbers, and undermine the UK's travel and tourism sector during a critical period of global recovery

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