Pretty UK seaside town that’s at war over a tourist tax costing families £34 a week

A gorgeous UK seaside town has two camps raging against each other over a so-called tourist tax. 

Bournemouth in Dorset was set to became the first seaside town in the UK to start charging a tourist tax that would cost families staying there an extra £34 a week.

But its hoteliers are fuming saying that the tax - which was also due to be introduced in neighbouring Christchurch and Poole - was rushed through and will hammer the tourism industry.

The tax - that was due to be launched on July 1 has now been put on ice whilst it’s appealed by the hotel owners. It would require guests staying in larger hotels in the area to pay an extra £2.40 levy per room, per night. This would equal £33.60 for a family of four staying across two rooms for a week.

If the new levy is introduced it's expected to generate an extra £2.6 million per year, which can be spent on future events and keeping the town clean.

A postal ballot on the tax narrowly passed earlier this year with 16 hotels voting in favour and 15 against. However there were accusations of a flawed voting process.

Rosie Radwell, chairman of the organisation Abid which wants to launch the tax, said: “We have no option but to do this because there’s no other way to fund anything,” reports the Telegraph.

She added: “All we’re doing is future-proofing our destination. This charge is less than a cup of coffee.”

But Josephine Butterworth, who runs hotels at Sandbanks in Poole with her husband John, said has an opposing view.

She said: “This has put a huge negative cloud over the Bournemouth area, and people are going to think twice about coming here. The town will suffer hugely,” reports The Telegraph.

Visitors to the town have also had their say one telling the same publication it was “not exactly welcoming” and another saying “it’ll sadly go someway to killing the town.”

Hoteliers have spoken to the Express previously about the proposals.

Paul Harper, is commercial director at Daish’s Holidays which markets affordable UK coach and self-drive breaks and are the owners and operators of the Bournemouth Sands Hotel in Bournemouth.

Paul opposes the scheme and said it was “rushed through”.

He told Express.co.uk: “We have already been in contact with several coach operators who have advised that they are likely to reduce the number of tours they will bring into Bournemouth in favour of other resorts. This scheme was rushed through without due consideration. 

“Our voting rights were denied because we did not have the opportunity to submit our vote, as the Notice of Ballot and ballot papers did not reach the Bournemouth Sands Hotel. We know that several other hotels in the area also did not receive ballot papers and therefore also could not vote, which is a significant concern.”

Emma Russell is managing director for a hotel operator which runs 24 hotels across the UK as well as the Norfolk Royale in Bournemouth. She said that they weren’t properly consulted or given a vote.

She said: “We are fundamentally against it. We should have been given a vote - we didn’t receive the notice of the ballot or the voting papers.”

With support from 42 hotels in the area, the decision is now being considered by the Secretary of State.