A trade union body has urged the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire to reconsider her refusal to introduce a so-called “tourist tax”, arguing that money raised from visitors could be invested directly back into communities across the county.
Lincoln & District Trades Council has criticised Dame Andrea Jenkyns’ decision to rule out an Overnight Visitor Levy across Greater Lincolnshire, after the Government announced new powers allowing mayors and other eligible local leaders in England to introduce one.
Dame Andrea, however, has remained firmly opposed to the proposal, arguing that another charge on overnight stays risks damaging Lincolnshire’s hospitality and tourism industry and making holidays more expensive.
Under the Government’s plans, local leaders would have the choice of introducing a percentage-based charge on overnight accommodation, with money raised available for investment in local priorities such as transport, regeneration and culture. Any introduction would be subject to local consultation, and legislation is still required before the new powers can come into force.
Dame Andrea, Greater Lincolnshire’s Reform UK mayor, has made clear she has no intention of using the new power.
Following the Government’s announcement, Dame Andrea said she “vehemently opposes the visitor levy/tourist tax” and that, as regional mayor, she will “never implement this”.
Her opposition centres around protecting Lincolnshire’s substantial tourism and hospitality industry, particularly businesses along the county’s coast, from additional costs and ensuring holidays in the county remain affordable.
Lincoln & District Trades Council, however, believes ruling out the levy entirely means Greater Lincolnshire could miss an opportunity to secure additional investment from its visitor economy.
The organisation says tourism is worth around £2 billion a year to the Lincolnshire economy and supports approximately 19,000 jobs.
It argues that while millions of people visit Lincolnshire every year to enjoy its beaches, countryside, historic towns, attractions and hospitality, the cost of providing and maintaining much of the infrastructure they use ultimately falls on local taxpayers and already-stretched public services.
Bradley Wall, Chair of Lincoln & District Trades Council, said: “We are disappointed that Mayor Jenkyns has decided to rule out a visitor levy before properly exploring what it could deliver for the people who actually live here.
“This isn’t about punishing families who come to Lincolnshire for a holiday. It is about asking whether visitors staying overnight can make a small contribution towards the places and services they are using — and then making sure that money is invested back into Lincolnshire.
“If tourism brings billions into our economy, why shouldn’t a small proportion of that money be used to make Lincolnshire a better place for everyone?”
The Trades Council believes any money raised should be ring-fenced and transparently invested locally, potentially supporting public transport, roads and infrastructure, public toilets and street cleaning, parks and beaches, heritage attractions, local events, skills and training and town-centre regeneration.
It argues communities including Boston, Lincoln, Skegness, Mablethorpe, Grimsby and Cleethorpes could potentially benefit from such investment.
Mr Wall continued: “The question we should be asking is not simply ‘will a tourist tax cost visitors more?’.
“The question should be: what could Lincolnshire do with the money?
“Could we have cleaner beaches? Better buses? Better-maintained public spaces? More investment in our town centres? Better cultural facilities? More support for local businesses? More skills and training for local workers?
“Of course we could.
“And ultimately those things benefit visitors too. A visitor levy could help pay for the infrastructure that makes people want to come here in the first place.”
Supporters of a levy argue a contribution from overnight visitors could generate locally controlled funding which can be reinvested into destinations, while opponents argue the additional cost would ultimately be passed on to visitors at a time when accommodation providers and the wider hospitality industry are already facing significant financial pressures.
The Trades Council says any future Greater Lincolnshire scheme should include appropriate exemptions and safeguards for vulnerable groups, workers staying overnight for employment and genuinely affordable accommodation.
But it argues rejecting the idea altogether means potentially giving up a new source of investment.
Mr Wall concluded: “Lincolnshire is too often told that there isn’t enough money for the services our communities need.
“Then, when an opportunity comes along to generate additional investment from an industry worth billions to the local economy, we are told no.
“That doesn’t make sense.
“We want to see a Lincolnshire where tourism creates good jobs, supports local businesses and brings investment into our communities — not one where local residents are left picking up the bill for the infrastructure that millions of visitors use.
“We therefore urge Mayor Jenkyns to think again. Don’t close the door on a visitor levy. Consult with residents, workers, businesses and communities about how it could work, where the money could go and how we can make sure Lincolnshire’s tourism economy delivers for the people of Lincolnshire.”
