ABTA responds to Overnight Visitor Levy Bill inclusion in The King’s Speech

Today His Majesty King Charles III delivered his third King’s Speech and outlined the Labour government’s legislative agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session.

Of the 37 new bills proposed, it includes the Overnight Visitor Levy in England giving English Mayors and potentially other local leaders of Foundation Strategic Authorities the powers to impose new tourist tax on overnight visitors.

In ABTA’s consultation response to the original proposals, we highlighted how rising costs, increased taxation and wider regulatory pressures, are all steadily eroding the relative attractiveness of holidays in the UK.

Luke Petherbridge ABTA Director of Public Affairs said:

“We’ve long expressed concern with the cumulative impact of taxes and charges on U.K. travel and tourism, which is already uncompetitive on cost grounds, a visitor levy further adds to this.

“When it comes to any new levy on visitors, it is important that money raised from it is put back into tourism and the local communities, and it was encouraging to see reinvestment acknowledged today. With our sector partners, including the Tourism Alliance, we will engage with local mayors to express how vital it is for this to be focused on promoting and developing local tourism which could deliver visible improvements for visitors, tourism businesses, and residents. We await the Government’s full report on the consultation and will reiterate our members views and shape taxes where introduced.

“The UK-EU bill signals an intention for closer relations with the EU, which are important for both outbound and inbound travel. We’ll continue to raise with government the changes we need to help boost these sectors, including a youth-experience scheme to make it easier for young people to work in the EU and vice versa.

“We’ll also be paying close attention to the Civil Aviation Bill and what that means for consumers’ travel.”

Notes to editors

ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,300 travel brands in membership who have a combined annual UK turnover of over £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.

All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com