National Park Charity Suggests Tourism Levy Could Attract More Visitors

A charitable organization asserts that visitor numbers to a national park could increase if tourism levies were implemented. Friends of the Lake District advocates for tourists to pay a charge of one or two pounds, applied either to overnight stays or vehicle use, to generate funds for local services. The charity has released a report titled “Who pays for the Lake District?”, which highlights what it describes as the “invisible burden” that tourism places on the region’s environment and infrastructure. Conversely, the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has stated it has “no current plans to implement a tourist tax,” and some stakeholders express concern that such a levy could discourage visitors. Approximately 18 million individuals visit the national park in Cumbria annually. Although these visitors contribute financially to the area, a rise in tourism can exert pressure on the local environment and strain existing infrastructure. The publication of this report has reignited discussions regarding how the region manages the advantages and disadvantages associated with being a highly frequented tourist destination. Mike Hill, chief executive of Friends of the Lake District, commented: “We’ve found in much of our research that around the world, where a visitor levy has come in, it’s actually resulted in higher visitor numbers coming.” He added, “Suddenly the footpaths are better, or there’s free electric buses that you can use to ride on, or there are rangers that can help stop the littering problems.” However, Jonathan Denby, who owns South Lakes Hotels, expressed concern that a charge “will put people off coming” to the Lakes. In an interview with BBC Radio Cumbria, Denby stated: “It’s a thoughtful report and makes some good points, but ignores two elephants in the room. “We pay VAT on accommodation and meals of 20%. The rest of Europe, where they take examples from, pay 10%, as does Japan. “We’re already taxed much more than our international competitors.” He further argued: “If we’re to consider a levy then it should be on the basis our VAT is the same as everyone else’s, at 10%.” Denby also suggested that requiring AirBnB providers to pay VAT would be a more profitable approach than implementing a tourism tax. Mr. Hill countered: “We really don’t think that tourism businesses are going to suffer if we bring in a small charge. We’re talking about a quid or two.“That gives you a brilliant, huge pot of money to spend on making the Lake District more attractive to tourists.” Dr. Celia Caulcott, who chairs the Lake District National Park Partnership (LDNPP), stated that the organization “recognise the need to secure new investment to support local communities, infrastructure and to help move people around sustainably.”