Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram joins metro mayors in lobbying Government for the right to impose a ‘visitor levy’ – but does that mean visitors to Liverpool would end up paying twice? Tony McDonough reports

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is joining other Metro Mayors in seeking devolved powers allowing them to introduce a ‘visitor levy’ on people visiting their regions.

Mr Rotheram claims a Liverpool city region visitor levy could raise almost £11m a year that could be used to help fund major events. Mayors of Greater Manchester, London, the North East, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire have also joined the call.

However, a £2 a night charge for overnight visitors to Liverpool city centre is already about to be implemented this month. Hoteliers and accommodation providers who are members of the Accommodation BID (ABID) voted in favour of the charge earlier this year.

LBN has asked both Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) and Liverpool BID Company whether there could be two separate levies for visitors to Liverpool or whether there will be just one.

The CA said: “If Mayors are granted the power to impose a levy that would supersede the BID levy – it’s not about charging people twice.”

And a spokesperson for the BID Company told LBN its current £2 visitor levy will be subject to a fresh ballot of accommodation providers. If they voted in favour again it would be in place for a further five years.

“For the ABID it’s all about making sure those funds are invested into the visitor economy. It’s what we’re calling a circular visitor economy method, so the funds raised go into driving and supporting the visitor economy, encouraging more overnight stays, more events and conferences,” they added.

Mr Rotheram said: “At a time when public budgets are under increasing pressure, we must find innovative ways to invest in the future of our visitor economies.

“A modest charge on overnight stays could be transformational – generating funding to reinvest in cultural infrastructure, support major events, and strengthen the international competitiveness of our regions.”

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In a united statement, the Mayors urged the Government to consider including enabling legislation in the forthcoming English Devolution Bill or a specific Finance Bill.

This would give local authorities the freedom to design and introduce a locally administered visitor levy. Funds raised through a visitor levy would be ring-fenced for local reinvestment. Potential areas of focus include:

• Supporting major cultural and sporting events.
• Enhancing infrastructure that visitors and local people rely on.
• International marketing to boost global competitiveness.
• Collaboration with devolved nations to promote the UK as a unified tourism destination.
• Skills development and business growth programmes.

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