Wales Tourist Tax
Visitors who are staying overnight might have to pay a “tourist tax” in some parts of Wales in the future.
The new decree, decided in a poll by the Welsh Parliament, could be up to 1.30 euros per tourist each night, added to their visit.
The government says the extra money could raise 33 million euros per year to help vacation places.
However, some companies fear that the fee could make fewer tourists come to Wales.
Senedd Cymru, or the Welsh Parliament, decided on Tuesday to give councils close by the choice to agree whether or not to have the tax, which would be introduced in 2027 at the earliest.
Each of the 22 major councils in the country will discuss whether or not they want to present the fee in their area.
Tourists staying in campsites and hostels would pay 75p per person each night, while people in other lodgings, including holiday homes and hotels, would pay a higher charge under the plans.
Children under 18 years old staying at campsites and hostels won’t pay an additional fee.
Some councils across Wales – such as Anglesey, Gwynedd, and Cardiff – have expressed interest in the plan.
Other councils have ruled it out, including Newport, Wrexham, and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Tourist taxes are not a new thing – many areas in the world have charges for tourists, such as France, Japan, most of the Caribbean Islands, Austria, Greece and Belgium.
Mark Drakeford, the Welsh finance secretary, says the introduction of the charges is a decent plan for Wales.
Mark Drakeford explains, “We believe it is reasonable for visitors to contribute towards infrastructure and services integral to their experience, as they do in so many other parts of the world.”
Mark Drakeford added that this was the first nearby tax created in the country for over five hundred years.
Although not everyone agrees with Mark Drakeford.
Sam Rowlands MS, from the party, said, “We believe it is bad for Wales and bad for the Welsh tourism sector, which forms such an important part of the Welsh economy.”
This means that the tax could be bad for the country and bad for the tourism sector, which is very important.
Organize your work into clear paragraphs