The chairman of the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee has criticised the Welsh Government’s proposed “tourism tax”. Stephen Crabb, a Conservative former cabinet minister and the MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire in Wales, said such a levy would be the “very last thing” businesses need.
Treasury minister Victoria Atkins attempted to draw a distinction from the Conservative Government in Westminster, pointing to tax relief and the so-called Brexit pubs guarantee, adding Welsh Labour “wants to call last orders and to have higher taxes”.
The Labour-led Welsh Government has put forward proposals for a “discretionary visitor levy”, which would empower local authorities to impose a “small charge” on tourists staying overnight in commercially-let accommodation such as hotels, Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts.
