Visitor tax

[Sam Vimes]

Basically anywhere that accommodates people staying, presumably overnight, is going to have to pay an extra tax.

Somewhat contradictory to the fact that many places that host tourists get tax breaks. In our area holiday homes can have reduced council tax. Bnb owners get tax free breaks on upto about £5k.

The problem, certainly in our area, is that the increased numbers of people as tourists put a strain on our resources that residents have to foot the bill to cover. Last year we had warnings from Scottish Water about water conservation because increased numbers of tourists use more and are not that environmentally conscious.

Believe it or not last year our community was running out of water and tankers had to be brought in.

Friends who have holiday homes equally moan about the fact that visitors leave the heating up high, lights on windows open most of the time because it's all in the bill anyway.

A general tax on accommodation won't see the money go to where it's needed most.

 

[Hutch]

When we travelled to France and other countries in Europe, you would see a local tax noted on your bill. You paid €5 for coffee and Croissant, but the breakdown would show local tax of "say 25 cents" . Same with Pitch sites.

 

[Dustydog]

The problem, certainly in our area, is that the increased numbers of people as tourists put a strain on our resources that residents have to foot the bill to cover.

Do you agree with These statistics presumably compiled by someone on a Scottish Council?

 

[Beardy]

The problem, certainly in our area, is that the increased numbers of people as tourists put a strain on our resources that residents have to foot the bill to cover.

Surely the tourists are pumping money into the local economy which is (or should be) used to pay for the enhancement of resources to some extent? For example, without paying guests hotels would close so the LA wouldn't collect business rates, local shops and restaurants would suffer and may have to close and more of the LAs income would be lost. Most tourist areas have developed in such a way as to be dependent on tourists.

Friends who have holiday homes equally moan about the fact that visitors leave the heating up high, lights on windows open most of the time because it's all in the bill anyway.

This is inexcusable but there is an obvious answer.......... charge for the utilities separately (including water)! Judging by the discussions on here about caravan sites who charge for electricity by amount used it may not be a popular move though.
I expect that most of us are guilty to a greater or lesser extent. Over Christmas I stayed at a site that included use of the site showers in the pitch fee. I almost certainly used three times the amount of water that I would have used showering in the caravan.

 

[Buckman]

Friends who have holiday homes equally moan about the fact that visitors leave the heating up high, lights on windows open most of the time because it's all in the bill anyway.

Similar to people having electric heaters running in their awnings?

 

[toad a caravan]

When did you last visit Fleetwood?I don't think it's anything like it was,I preferred the likes of St Anns,Cleverlys, Fleetwood to Blackpool,I was surprised to see how Fleetwood has lost its lustre,and the change of use of the shops near the RNLI shop

 

[otherclive]

When did you last visit Fleetwood?I don't think it's anything like it was,I preferred the likes of St Anns,Cleverlys, Fleetwood to Blackpool,I was surprised to see how Fleetwood has lost its lustre,and the change of use of the shops near the RNLI shop

That’s what I meant, hence I’d go to Grange over Sands.

 

[Dustydog]

That’s what I meant, hence I’d go to Grange over Sands.

Even though it 54 miles away? What’s wrong with Blackpool Tower, the white knuckle rides and numerous one armed bandit shops and chippies. Plus most guest houses still advertise they offer “ free hot water”🤪

 

[Sam Vimes]

Do you agree with These statistics presumably compiled by someone on a Scottish Council?

The article is a little light on detail such as where they got their figures from and what they really mean.

In terms of population its always been hard to ascertain just what it is for Skye, by which I mean that area once you cross the bridge. This is because the stats usually include areas of the mainland such as Lochalsh or even Lochaber.

In terms of income generation this also doesn't have much value in my opinion when considering the impact of tourism. Some of that money will not stay on Skye. Many holiday homes for example are owned by those who don't live here. Taxes collect will go into central goverment and may not dribble back to where they are generated. Lots of tourists bring supplies with them.

The impact of increased tourism resulting in more accomodation being given over to them creates problems for locals who want to live here - prices are rising. Plus the limited long term rentals are restricting employment as staff cant find anywhere to live. Some NHS services are hard to support for similar reasons. When NHS staff have to travel to Skye - e.g for Flu vaccination programs, Audiology tests etc, they cant find aywhere to stay.

 

[otherclive]

Even though it 54 miles away? What’s wrong with Blackpool Tower, the white knuckle rides and numerous one armed bandit shops and chippies. Plus most guest houses still advertise they offer “ free hot water”🤪

I only used it as an example, hope this doesn’t move towards a ‘twisted underpants’ thread

We’ve had a goodly number of trips to Blackpool right from my apprenticeship days, when the apprentices arranged a coach for all. Then when living in Cumbria we would always visit the illuminations. I know some denigrate Blackpool but we’ve always taken it as it is and enjoyed our visits. But it wouldn’t be my choice for a holiday, as the sea is never inviting.

 

[otherclive]

I don’t rea

The article is a little light on detail such as where they got their figures from and what they really mean.

In terms of population its always been hard to ascertain just what it is for Skye, by which I mean that area once you cross the bridge. This is because the stats usually include areas of the mainland such as Lochalsh or even Lochaber.

In terms of income generation this also doesn't have much value in my opinion when considering the impact of tourism. Some of that money will not stay on Skye. Many holiday homes for example are owned by those who don't live here. Taxes collect will go into central goverment and may not dribble back to where they are generated. Lots of tourists bring supplies with them.

The impact of increased tourism resulting in more accomodation being given over to them creates problems for locals who want to live here - prices are rising. Plus the limited long term rentals are restricting employment as staff cant find anywhere to live. Some NHS services are hard to support for similar reasons. When NHS staff have to travel to Skye - e.g for Flu vaccination programs, Audiology tests etc, they cant find aywhere to stay.

i think it would have to be a hefty tourist tax to deter tourists to Skye its such an attraction to such a wide range of visitor interests. When you read that the tax on visitors to Venice has had zilch effect on visitor numbers.

 

[Beachball]

Even though it 54 miles away? What’s wrong with Blackpool Tower, the white knuckle rides and numerous one armed bandit shops and chippies. Plus most guest houses still advertise they offer “ free hot water”🤪

We always go to Stanley park at Blackpool and then see the lights .

 

[toad a caravan]

Sea food kiosk,toffee apples,steam potatoes and candy floss they are the "rides" i've ever gone on, anything over a metre from the ground or revolves not for me thanks 😵‍💫

 

[Buckman]

Sea food kiosk,toffee apples,steam potatoes and candy floss they are the "rides" i've ever gone on, anything over a metre from the ground or revolves not for me thanks 😵‍💫

Obviously you never fly anywhere? What about a ferry as that probably more than a metre off the ground or sea bed?

 

[toad a caravan]

I've never seen any planes,boats or subs on Blackpool pleasure beach,,mind you not been on it for a long time,,😁 perhaps Stanley park as they used to have boats they may have sub, squires gate for planes🙂

 

[Dustydog]

I only used it as an example, hope this doesn’t move towards a ‘twisted underpants’ thread

We’ve had a goodly number of trips to Blackpool right from my apprenticeship days, when the apprentices arranged a coach for all. Then when living in Cumbria we would always visit the illuminations. I know some denigrate Blackpool but we’ve always taken it as it is and enjoyed our visits. But it wouldn’t be my choice for a holiday, as the sea is never inviting.

No twist . As I’ve said before Blackpool according to the national stats office is the worst place to live for mortality. 😢😢. Must be something in the air or water🙉

 

[Sam Vimes]

I don’t rea

i think it would have to be a hefty tourist tax to deter tourists to Skye its such an attraction to such a wide range of visitor interests. When you read that the tax on visitors to Venice has had zilch effect on visitor numbers.

I agree that it would take a large tax to act as a deterrent but maybe it's a way of getting some recompense for the increase in wear and tear as it were.

What needs to be done, in my opinion, is to find a way to restrict the numbers and one way would be to prevent it discourage the number of additional holiday let's and Bnbs becoming available.

Some years back when I was chairman of the community council we got the head planner along to discuss this. What it came down to was that it was the Scottish Governments intent to encourage tourism so anything went through regardless of use.

 

[otherclive]

I agree that it would take a large tax to act as a deterrent but maybe it's a way of getting some recompense for the increase in wear and tear as it were.

What needs to be done, in my opinion, is to find a way to restrict the numbers and one way would be to prevent it discourage the number of additional holiday let's and Bnbs becoming available.

Some years back when I was chairman of the community council we got the head planner along to discuss this. What it came down to was that it was the Scottish Governments intent to encourage tourism so anything went through regardless of use.

Restricting holiday let’s and Airbnb seems to be the way some overseas cities are moving as a means of freeing up accommodation in city centres for local folks.

 

[otherclive]

No twist . As I’ve said before Blackpool according to the national stats office is the worst place to live for mortality. 😢😢. Must be something in the air or water🙉

Never come across any “. Morts” when visiting Blackpool. 🙈

 

[Beardy]

What needs to be done, in my opinion, is to find a way to restrict the numbers and one way would be to prevent it discourage the number of additional holiday let's and Bnbs becoming available.

Restricting holiday let’s and Airbnb seems to be the way some overseas cities are moving as a means of freeing up accommodation in city centres for local folks.

Sadly this may have the knock on effect of increasing prices and excluding the less affluent from visiting. Maybe that would be beneficial to the local economy, having a higher proportion of visitors with cash to spend, but excluding visitors by 'pricing them out' seems a tad unfair to me.

 

[Sam Vimes]

As I mentioned previously - its questionable about how much of the money people spend in an area actually stays in the area.

Restricting accomodation doesn't necessarily mean hiking prices but reducing the availability. Ok, this may make the law of supply and demand cause prices to rise but that's what happens in a free market. Consideration must be given to residents and protests across the world have seen how wide an issue this is.

 

[Buckman]

As I mentioned previously - its questionable about how much of the money people spend in an area actually stays in the area.

Restricting accomodation doesn't necessarily mean hiking prices but reducing the availability. Ok, this may make the law of supply and demand cause prices to rise but that's what happens in a free market. Consideration must be given to residents and protests across the world have seen how wide an issue this is.

I would have thought that if you are buying goods i.e. food, fuel, etc in an area a lot of that money will revolve around the local economy? Whatever you spend in an area some of it goes towards paying the employee their wages which is then probably spent in the area.

 

[RogerL]

I would have thought that if you are buying goods i.e. food, fuel, etc in an area a lot of that money will revolve around the local economy? Whatever you spend in an area some of it goes towards paying the employee their wages which is then probably spent in the area.

As an example - the retailer's margin when selling fuel is only 8-12 p/litre, the rest going to central government or international corporations - and a big chunk of the 8-12 p will go on filling station overheads like rent, insurance, etc leaving very little on local wages - and much of the money paid to local people itself is swallowed up outside the area on tax, NI, fuel, food, etc - so very little is retained locally.

 

[Challenger]

We have been paying a tourist tax on camp site fees when visiting France and Benelux for many years. We often thought what a good idea it was .
Just what is it about 'paying tax' that so upsets the British ?

We all expect services, which only can be fairly paid for through taxation.

 

[Dustydog]

When you live somewhere small and pretty Nimbyism becomes rife,sadly.

My parents lived at a North Devon Town for 40 years. We hated the tourists blocking up our Local and Car Parks.
Where I live now has half the population of Skye. Rebranded last year as part of the South Cotswolds finding a parking space at the weekends in the little High Street or car park is impossible..
You can walk into your own Local and find it full of strangers. But it’s their money going in the till , paying the wages , keeping the food and beer prices down , employing local people.
But as an active member of the local Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Group there is no financial question of doubt that Tourism brings a lot of wealth to a lot of local businesses and the community. We are actively stopping High Street shops becoming private dwelling houses. Once you lose your High street shop you have lost everything and then need transport to the next towns shops.

It’s a very hard call to ignore tourism. But then like where I am the Thames path walkers do keep a number of premises occupied plus cash into the till. If we lost them I suspect we would be the long term loser.

The figures I read for Skye Sam seem to celebrate the 650,000 tourists visiting each year bringing prosperity and employment for 25% of the local people. Incidentally why did they build the Skye Bridge😉