Locals in pretty seaside towns slam ‘ridiculous and pathetic’ tourist tax plan

People living in Cornwall have slammed the idea of a tourist tax being introduced in the county, claiming the impact would be more negative than positive.

Earlier this year, CEO of Visit Cornwall Malcolm Bell expressed support for the idea of a tourist tax in the region but caveated this by saying it would work more effectively if Cornwall didn’t go it alone.

Despite Mr Bell’s view that a tourist tax in one of Britain’s most popular counties during the summer could work, local people have countered this and warned it could backfire instead.

Locals have described how they think it could send prices across the county rising higher than they already are and even push people away to other parts of the UK.

Speaking to CornwallLive, one person warned: “What a ridiculous idea, I’ve never heard anything so pathetic in my life charging people to travel around our own country, charging people to holiday in the UK.

“[It] will just push more people abroad meaning less tourism resulting in less money being spent in the local area which will then result in these places going broke, people will never pay tax/money to travel in the UK.”

Another user said: “Crazy crazy idea Cornwall is getting too expensive as it is. Hotel, B&B, caravans, car park costs, you can go too far and kill the tourist industry we so need to survive.”

Despite the pushback by some people against the idea of a tourist tax, some believe it could benefit the county as more money could go into local services to make Cornwall more attractive to holidaymakers.

Discussing the tax, Malcolm Bell said he believed people would pay the tax if they knew it was going into the local community.

He explained: “We have 85 percent repeat business in Cornwall – holidaymakers who regularly return would want the levy to help Cornwall and its residents.

“If holidaymakers want to contribute, if they think it’s going to the right cause, I wouldn’t mind. That to me means yes they would be pleased to see that – if they know where it is going.

“People are cynical and want reassurance that their extra payment is going on something that is appropriate. But if it is just another levy added onto VAT and taxes? That is probably not what people want to see.”