TA Weekly Update – 19th December 2024

In this newsletter:

• “Reeves blocks Mayors’ plan for taxes on tourists” – Sunday Times
• Meeting with Shadow Tourism Minister, Saqib Bhatti MP
• English Tourism Week – TA Insights Conference and Reception – dates reminder
• CSR submissions – your data and views please
• TA updates return on 9th January
• Merry Christmas and see you in the new year

 

“Reeves blocks Mayors’ plan for taxes on tourists” – Sunday Times

You will be aware that the Government this week published its long-awaited English Devolution Paper.

There had been much speculation that the paper would include an option for mayors or other local government entities to impose tourist taxes on overnight stays, something many of the mayors and local government leaders have been angling for, to help them plug their funding gaps.

The Sunday Times reported last weekend that this proposal was spiked by the Chancellor given the business and broader reaction to her Budget and the feeling that she and the Government could not be seen to be raising taxes further.

Given the huge Budget impact on business in tourism (something we outlined strongly in a letter to the Chancellor), she was right to make this call. However, the Mayors (Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham in particular) are very keen for this additional power, so the debate may well continue.

 

Meeting with Shadow Tourism Minister, Saqib Bhatti MP

We were pleased to meet the newly appointed Shadow Tourism Minister, Saqib Bhatti MP (Cons, Meriden and Solihull East) this week.

Saqib was appointed to work with the Shadow DCMS Secretary, Stuart Andrew MP (Cons, Daventry) a few weeks ago following the Conservative leadership results.

He was very keen to understand the current business environment and the Budget impacts on tourism businesses, as well as the broader tourism growth and barriers at this meeting, and is also keen to do more engagement with the sector in the new year (more on that to follow). We are looking forward to working with him and the rest of the Shadow team.

We were also pleased to meet Bayo Alaba MP (Lab, Southend East and Rochford) this week. Bayo is a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and is very keen to promote tourism development and cultural heritage in his area.

 

English Tourism Week – TA Insights Conference and Reception – dates reminder

A reminder that English Tourism Week 2025 will run 14-23 March 2025 and that we will once again be holding our Tourism Insights Conference and English Tourism Week Parliamentary Reception on 18th March. Please make sure to note this date in your diary. Tickets will go on sale very early in the new year.

The Parliamentary Reception is a highlight in the tourism year and all attendees at the conference are welcome to join. We will once again be hosting this event alongside our colleagues at the Family Holiday Charity in conjunction with VisitEngland and Chris Bloore MP (Lab, Redditch) will be acting as our MP sponsor for the day.

Many more details in the new year, but do make sure the date is blocked in your diaries!

 

CSR submissions – your data and views please

Further to the note in last week’s update, please do remember to share your data and views regarding the Comprehensive Spending Review, the consultation for which closes on 9 February. In order to ensure as coherent a set of submissions as possible from across the sector we will be circulating a draft in January.

Given this, if you have any thoughts, data or views on content, please do send these to Richard.Toomer@tourismalliance.com ASAP, and by 10:00am on Monday 13th January at the latest.

 

TA updates return on 9th January

The TA will be closed from the end of today until Monday 6th January and the TA Weekly updates will resume again on Thursday 9th January.

Merry Christmas and see you in the new year