The Tourist Tax Conundrum: A Misguided Fear in an Industry Under Pressure The hospitality industry, reeling from the effects of a global economic slowdown, war, and Brexit induced uncertainty, is sounding alarm bells over tourist taxes.
UKHospitality's dire predictions – 12 million fewer visits and 33,000 job losses in England alone – have been seized upon by critics as evidence of the folly of introducing such levies.
However, closer examination reveals a more nuanced picture. Tourist taxes are not new; they've been in place for years in many European destinations, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Venice.