TA Weekly Update – 24th September 2026

Tourism Alliance Director Eddy Leviten shares this week’s update on the visitor economy, including the latest tourism figures, developments on overnight visitor levies, parliamentary activity and forthcoming industry events.

From Eddy

Overnight visitor levies remain firmly on the agenda. Gwynedd Council has received 6,856 responses to its consultation, while the Greater London Authority has discussed the potential introduction of a levy in the capital.

We are also delighted to welcome Debbie Walker, Chief Executive of HARPA, to the Tourism Alliance Board. With party conference season under way, we continue to represent the sector and ensure tourism’s voice is heard.

Early-bird booking for the Tourism Policy Conference ends soon, so members are encouraged to secure their places.

This week’s numbers

• 78% of UK adults intend to take an overnight domestic trip in the next 12 months — up three percentage points.
• 61% intend to take an overseas trip.
• 49% believe the worst of the cost-of-living crisis is still to come.
• Demand for coastal breaks is down 18%.

Parliamentary and political update

Overnight visitor levies

A series of parliamentary questions has continued scrutiny of visitor levies. In the House of Lords, question HL3709 asked about the effect of an overnight visitor levy on family-run and small accommodation businesses.

Further questions — 29149, 29566 and 29772 — covered potential exemptions and the impact on different visitors and businesses.

The Government has said strategic authorities will be responsible for administering levies. An estimated £99.6 million has been referenced in question HL3201.

Gwynedd Council has delayed its decision following strong public engagement with the consultation.

Business events

The Government has published its response to the committee inquiry into business events. A new Major Events Strategy is expected in spring 2027, with an ambition to welcome 50 million international visitors by 2030. MeetEngland is set to receive 20% of the relevant budget. Read the Government response.

Industry intelligence

• VisitEngland has launched a £1.2 million #AllOnTheCoast campaign, running from 28 September to 1 November, with a further burst planned for February and March 2027.
• New ABTA and UKinbound research estimates that travel contributes £88.5 billion to the UK economy and supports 1.4 million jobs.
• The latest consumer sentiment findings show domestic travel intentions at 78% and overseas intentions at 61%.

Member events

• Tourism Policy Conference — 17 November
• Creating Connections North West — 1 October
• Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Conference — 7 October
• Visitor Economy Summit, Nottingham — 8 October
• Host Planet events: Bath — 7 October; Chester — 10 November; Edinburgh — 3 December
• Tourism Society President’s Dinner — 14 October
• Tourism Management Institute Annual Convention — 15 October

Forward look

• 1 October — Creating Connections North West
• 7 October — Peak District and Derbyshire Tourism Conference; Host Planet Bath
• 8 October — Visitor Economy Summit, Nottingham
• 14 October — Tourism Society President’s Dinner
• 15 October — Tourism Management Institute Annual Convention
• 28 October — Autumn Budget
• 10 November — Host Planet Chester
• 17 November — Tourism Policy Conference
• 3 December — Host Planet Edinburgh
• 17 March 2027 — Tourism Insights Conference and English Tourism Week
• April 2027 — Business rates changes
• 2031 — Planned opening of Universal’s UK resort