Visitors who stay overnight Wales you may have to pay to stay under tourist tax proposals submitted to Parliament later this month.

The “small” but unspecified visitor tax would be paid by people staying overnight in accommodation in Wales to raise funds that support the “long-term sustainability” of the tourism industry.

One bill would give local authorities control of a visitor tax, while the other intends to regulate visitor accommodation by creating a national registry.

A joint statement from the Secretary of Finance Marc Drakeford and Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans said the Visitor Tax and Accommodation Bills would be presented to the Senedd on November 25.

“This Bill proposes to give local authorities the power to introduce a visitors tax, which will be a small tax paid by people staying overnight in visitor accommodation. This levy will raise additional funds for local authorities to support the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” he said.

They added: “Each local authority will be able to decide whether or not to introduce a council tax in their area, depending on local circumstances. »

Prime Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan announced the two bills in the July legislative declaration to “support tourism and local communities.”

The visitor accommodation registration system is the “first step” towards a previously consulted legal licensing system, including holiday homes in Wales, the statement said.

Rebecca Evans said: “These proposals are about preparing for the future. Our intention is to create a feeling of shared responsibility between residents and visitors, to protect and invest in our territories.

“By asking visitors – whether from Wales or further afield – to make a small contribution to maintaining and improving the place they visit, we will encourage a more sustainable approach to tourism.”

The Welsh Conservatives have said plans to tax tourism would “jeopardize jobs” and “impose red tape” on Wales.

Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “We have been absolutely clear from the start that this policy is not the right one for Wales.

“A tourism tax would put jobs at risk at a time when businesses are being crushed by Labor, it would impose red tape and it would defeat its own purposes by encouraging visitors to use more attractions and services managed by the municipality.

“Our tourism industry should be supported by the Welsh Government, not crippled by new taxes.”

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