A Boston business leader has backed the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire’s decision not to introduce a visitor levy, arguing the county should be encouraging people to stay and spend rather than making visits more expensive.
Joseph Gray, of SG Property Management and Chair of the Boston Town Centre Business Association, has spoken to Boston VIBE following calls from Lincoln & District Trades Council for Dame Andrea Jenkyns to reconsider her position.
The intervention follows a growing debate over the Government’s plans to give regional mayors in England powers to introduce a percentage-based levy on overnight accommodation, with revenue available for investment in local priorities.
Dame Andrea has ruled out introducing such a levy in Greater Lincolnshire, saying she does not want to place further pressure on the hospitality industry or risk discouraging people from visiting the county.
Her position was challenged last week by Lincoln & District Trades Council, which called on the Mayor to reconsider and explore whether money generated through a levy could instead be reinvested into infrastructure, public transport, town centres, beaches and other services used by visitors.
Now Mr Gray, who operates serviced accommodation locally as well as representing town centre businesses through the Boston Town Centre Business Association, has come out in support of the Mayor’s stance.
Speaking to Boston VIBE, Joseph Gray said: “I welcome the Mayor’s decision not to introduce the tourist levy.
“From my point of view, both as someone who provides serviced accommodation locally and as Chair of the Boston Town Centre Business Association, we should be doing everything we can to encourage people to come to Lincolnshire, stay here and spend money in our local economy.
“When somebody stays locally, it’s not just the accommodation provider that benefits. They’re going into our pubs and restaurants, using local shops and generally spending money with businesses across the area.
“Businesses are already dealing with increased costs, and ultimately a tourist levy is another cost that’s going to be passed on to the visitor.
“I don’t think making it more expensive to stay in Lincolnshire is the right approach when we should be trying to make the county as attractive and competitive as possible.
“Of course I support investment in our town centres and tourism, but I think we need to find ways of doing that which encourage visitors rather than potentially putting them off.
“So overall, yes, I think the Mayor has made the right decision.”
The comments provide a contrasting local business perspective to that put forward by the Trades Council.
Bradley Wall, Chair of Lincoln & District Trades Council, previously told Boston VIBE that the Mayor should not “close the door” on a levy without exploring what additional investment it could generate for communities.
Supporters of a visitor levy argue that money raised from overnight stays could provide an additional source of locally controlled funding for services and improvements which benefit residents and tourists alike.
Opponents, including Dame Andrea and Mr Gray, argue that accommodation providers would ultimately have to pass the additional cost on to their guests and fear that increasing the price of an overnight stay could make Lincolnshire less competitive as a destination.
No visitor levy is currently in place in Greater Lincolnshire. Dame Andrea formally reiterated on September 14 that she would not introduce one in the region.
