Charlie Dewhirst has highlighted a local pub struggling with VAT charges and voiced concern over potential tourism taxes.
The impact of VAT on hospitality business in Bridlington has been highlighted in the house of commons.
The Town's MP - Charlie Dewhirst - used a commons debate to explain how one local pub is struggling to make a profit in the current economic climate.
"I represent two seaside towns in Bridlington and Hornsea all of which is absolutely reliant on the hospitality industry.
The pubs, the cafes, the fish and chips, the ice creams, and all of these businesses are under serious pressure.
The job losses nationally across the sector, 84,000. The rise in national insurance contributions, the employment's rights bill and VAT.
I was told by a local landlord of a very successful pub in my constituency that he has 600 covers a week and still struggles to make a profit.
Because although he's buying that food without VAT on it. He has to charge it back to the customer.
For the first 500 people that come in for a meal every week, the government is taking the first hundred covers.
Speaking in a commons debate on the hospitality industry Bridlington's MP also said that a Welsh style tourism tax would not be welcome on the Yorkshire Coast.
The Welsh assembly is allowing local councils to charge a daily visitors levy from 2027. Visitors will pay a set rate per night, depending on accommodation type: 75p per person for hostels/campsites and £1.30 per person for hotels, holiday lets, and other visitor accommodation. The funds raised will be retained in the local area to support tourism. While the Welsh Government passed the legislation, each local council will decide if they wish to introduce the levy in their area.
Speaking in the house of commons, Charlie Dewhirst said the idea would put more pressure on the local hospitality industry if it was also rolled out in England.
"The tourism tax in Wales has caused significant concern in coastal communities of my own, Bridlington, Hornsea and the other coastal villages because , tourism industry is already heavily taxed. People are already feeling the pressure. We certainly do not want to see any sort of tourism tax be expanded from Wales into the wider United Kingdom.
It really is not possible for these businesses to continue in the current climate. As we've already heard, over a third are unable to make a profit in hospitality industry.
Hospitality is the lifeblood of our local community, and we should be doing more to look at this as a special case because it really, really is damaging when we see pubs close.
When a village loses a pub, a village loses part of its heart and its soul, we absolutely need to be protecting these businesses
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