The historic cities of Bath and Cambridge have called on the government to grant them the power to introduce a tourist tax, joining a growing number of English destinations seeking similar measures.
In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, the leaders of Bath & North East Somerset Council and Cambridge City Council argued that the high volume of visitors is putting local infrastructure under strain and increasing demand on services such as waste management.
The councils are seeking a roundtable discussion to explore sustainable tourism options, including a “modest visitor levy” on all types of accommodation, including short-term lets like Airbnb. Similar taxes already exist in Scotland and Wales, but English local authorities currently lack the legal power to impose them.
Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said the current system is unfair and that councils need tools to manage tourism in line with local needs. Councillor Cameron Holloway of Cambridge City Council added that the “high numbers of tourists” can have a serious impact on residents and detract from the visitor experience.
Other destinations, including Brent (home of Wembley Stadium) and Oxford, have also expressed interest in introducing tourist taxes. Oxford is exploring an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) as a legal workaround.
