Proposed tourist tax backed in Northumberland seaside village - as long as funds raised are reinvested locally

Craster, with its pretty harbour and breath-taking views towards Dunstanburgh Castle, experiences very high visitor numbers in peak season and enjoys the economic benefits tourism brings.

However, this also places pressure on local infrastructure and services.

Craster Parish Council has signalled its support for the government’s proposal to introduce a new overnight visitor levy in England – as long as the funds raised are reinvested locally.

Cllr Martin Smith, chairman of Craster Parish Council, said: “Craster Parish Council is, in principle, supportive of an overnight visitor levy, provided it is designed in a way that genuinely benefits the communities hosting tourism.

"In places like Craster, visitor numbers are high and growing, and the pressure on local roads, public transport, toilets and other essential infrastructure is felt most sharply at parish level.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to using any levy to improve transport and infrastructure, but this investment must be community-driven and reflect local priorities.

"Parish councils are on the frontline of managing visitor impacts, yet too often lack the resources to do so effectively. We believe there should be a clear mechanism for a proportion of any levy raised to flow directly back to the communities most affected.”

The proposed levy would allow certain local areas to introduce a modest charge on overnight stays in accommodation such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, self-catering properties and short-term holiday lets.

Cllr Smith added: "While including holiday lets and short-term rentals could increase revenue, this will only work if there is a robust national register in place. Without it, it is simply not possible to fairly identify or enforce contributions from all accommodation providers. Our support for this levy is therefore conditional on these practical issues being resolved, so that the policy works for residents as well as visitors.”

It would not be a national tax applied automatically across England. Instead, it would be a discretionary power, meaning that local Mayors and Combined Authorities would decide whether to introduce a levy in their area and how it would operate.

Comments on the consultation can be made via: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england