David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has taken the call for a new mayoral visitor levy directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP.
The letter calls for the Chancellor to take steps in next week’s Budget to unlock new powers for Mayors to introduce a visitor levy on services and unserviced overnight accommodation.
This comes after the York and North Yorkshire Policy Lab, a joint initiative between York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and York St John University, found that a £2 per-room, per night levy could generate around £52m a year without placing any additional burden on local taxpayers.
The Mayors office says that In the context of its c.£7m a year bus funding and £18m a year Mayoral Investment Fund, a visitor levy could "unlock a new era of devolution in York and North Yorkshire".
The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority said:
"This funding could allow us to accelerate improvements to transport, infrastructure, our key growth sectors, the visitor economy, and mitigating the impacts of high visitor numbers for local residents."
On hand delivering the letter to the Chancellor yesterday, David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said
“A visitor levy in York and North Yorkshire would be a total game changer for our region. We’re home to beautiful towns, villages and cities and receive 41m visitors a year as a result.
“A small charge on overnight stays could revolutionise how we deliver transport, support businesses, invest in infrastructure and the visitor economy. Building the healthy and thriving communities for our residents and everyone that comes to visit them.”
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