Liverpool, the fifth largest city in the United Kingdom, located in Merseyside, England, may begin charging an overnight fee for visitors in an effort to manage its growing number of tourists.
Key Facts:
- Liverpool, in northwest England, expects about 54 million visitors this year.
- City officials propose a tax of about $3 (2 pounds) per night.
- The funds would be overseen by local hotels and used to improve public areas.
- Officials predict it could raise nearly $8 million within two years.
The Rest of The Story:
Supporters say the new fee would help pay for street cleaning and other visitor-related expenses. They argue it will also give local businesses more control over how tourism revenue is spent, easing pressure on public funds.
“The proposal would see the charge, which would be administered by hotels, going directly into the visitor economy and helping to support its growth and development,” Liverpool’s Accommodation Business Improvement District (BID) said in a press release.
“It would also go toward improving the public realm, including street cleaning.”
“This would relieve pressure on the public purse and would ensure that the hotel sector would get a say [about] how the funds [are] spent, helping to drive a more sustainable and viable visitor economy in the future,” the release continued.
Liverpool’s plan is part of a global shift toward taxes aimed at managing crowds. Similar fees in other regions, such as Greece and the Maldives, are meant to balance local needs with booming visitor demand.
Commentary:
There is reason to doubt that a few extra dollars per night will truly keep tourists away. Many visitors consider such fees a minor expense compared to the overall cost of a trip.
Still, cities like Liverpool are within their rights to levy these charges to support local infrastructure. In the end, travelers can choose whether the experience is worth the added cost or if they’d rather pick another destination.
The Bottom Line:
Liverpool is poised to adopt an overnight tourist fee to address rising visitation. Whether this step changes visitor behavior or simply supplements public funds remains to be seen.
READ NEXT: ‘The Hill’ Calls For Congress to Overturn Will of the Voters, Reject Trump Presidency