Tourism can be a great thing. In 2019, before the world collapsed into chaos, the tourism industry generated a whopping £106 billion for the British economy. People come from across the world to enjoy this country’s history, idyllic countrysides, and anything that looks vaguely Harry Potter-ish. But while tourists spend a lot of cash, they can also bring with them some problems for locals.
Venice is sort of the poster child for what’s known as overtourism, which is exactly what it sounds like. Essentially, the Italian city got to a point where there were just too many people visiting it, polluting its canals, causing damage to its centuries-old streets, and creating a housing shortage for the people who actually lived there. Last year Venice was added to UNESCO’s list of endangered sites and a few months ago they announced a €5 fee for anyone wishing to day-trip to the city – and they aren’t the only place to charge some form of tourist tax.
Cambridge has announced plans to take after Venice and a host of other European cities like Berlin, Vienna, and Budapest. The city’s tax would come in the form of a levy on hotel rooms, meaning that visitors to certain hotels would be charged an extra £2 per room per night. Some estimates think this could raise anywhere up to £2.6 million a year for the city, depending on how many people are staying in the hotels.
A similar scheme was successfully trialled in Manchester last April. Visitors in Manny are now charged an extra £1 on top of the cost of their hotel room unless they can prove they are travelling for business.
For the plans to go through, an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) must first be formed. According to Jemma Little, who is the economic development manager at Cambridge Council, for this to happen, ‘there needs to be a ballot of the hotels within that catchment area [of Greater Cambridge]... It’s not something the council can decide.’
Once created, eligible hotels within the district would collect the levy from customers. Little explained that ‘the smaller businesses won’t be involved at this stage. It’s going to be hotels with 10 or more bedrooms where the primary operation is to be a hotel.’
If all goes to plan, the tax could become a reality as soon as next year. If you’re planning a trip to Cambridge, there will never be a better time to do it than right now. Use this as your sign to visit. And while you’re there, try out some of Time Out’s favourite places to eat and things to do.
Staycations according to Time Out
We at Time Out know about good holidays. If you’re currently planning your next UK break and don't know where to go, we’ve got you covered. Why not try one of Time Out’s favourite things to do in the country, or embark on one of these top rated Great British road trips? For something a bit more out there, have a look at these cool islands scattered across England, or check out these haunted places you can visit.
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