NEWS STORY : Liverpool to Introduce £2 ‘Tourist Tax’ from June to Boost Visitor Economy
STORY
Liverpool is set to implement a £2 per night “City Visitor Charge” on overnight stays in hotels and serviced apartments from 1 June 2025, following a successful ballot among local accommodation providers. The charge, applicable to establishments with a rateable value of £45,000 or more, aims to generate approximately £9.2 million over two years. Of this, £6.7 million is earmarked to support the city’s visitor economy, including funding for marketing campaigns, street cleaning, and major events. The proposal was approved by 26 votes to 18 in a ballot conducted among 83 hotels and serviced apartments within Liverpool’s Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), with a turnout of 53%.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, welcomed the decision, stating:
“The ‘Yes’ vote for an extension of the BID to create a visitor charge is a great vote of confidence in the growth of our successful visitor economy. This positive step lays solid foundations in our endeavour to formalise the establishment of a sustainable Tourism Tax, akin to what is being looked at in Glasgow and has already been introduced in other major European cities.”
The levy will be administered by the Liverpool BID Company, which oversees the city’s business improvement districts. Funds collected will be reinvested into initiatives designed to enhance Liverpool’s appeal as a tourist destination. The introduction of the City Visitor Charge aligns Liverpool with a number of other UK cities like Manchester, which implemented a similar £1 per night fee in April 2023, raising £2.8 million in its first year.
