The introduction of a “tourist tax” in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, which was scheduled for 1 July, has been delayed pending the outcome of an appeal to the Secretary of State.
The board of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) voted yesterday to hold off on the £2-per-night “visitor charge”, which coach operators are concerned could be passed on to them in applicable cases.
The fee is set to be payable by hotels with a rateable value of more than £40,000. They can choose whether or not to pass on the levy to guests or tour operators, although they will also initially be able to apply for relief in cases of pre-existing contract arrangements.
After BCP ABID’s motion was passed in May by 16 votes to 15, a group of 42 hoteliers lodged the appeal, claiming that many of the 75 owners of eligible hotels were either unable to vote or unaware of the ballot.
A spokesperson for the group, which comprises independent and chain hotels, says: “The levy appears to us, to have been rushed through with very little consultation from either the ABID team or the (BCP) Council.
“A significant number of mistakes appear to have been made where the guidance for local authorities has not been followed both prior and during the voting process.
“This resulted in 13 hotels being denied their vote and there also appears to be at least another 10 hotels excluded from the vote and that pass the criteria for inclusion. As of yet, we haven’t had any answers to explain why this is. ”
It adds: “Only 16 hoteliers voted in favour of the introduction of a levy and, of these 16, only two were not part of the ABID Board who formulated the levy.”
A statement from BCP ABID insists that the board “remain confident in the integrity of the ballot and its adherence to the regulations”.
However, it adds: “Many accommodation providers, regardless of their stance on the Accommodation BID would prefer to delay the levy collection arrangements until the appeal result is determined.
“Taking this feedback into consideration, the ABID Board met today and voted to delay levy collection until the outcome of the appeal, expected by the end of September 2024.”
It adds: “Once resolved, we will ensure all relevant processes are in place to make the ABID a driving force for positive change in our area. Our goal is to foster a thriving business environment in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, and we believe that through collaborative efforts, we can achieve this.”
Earlier, BCP ABID explained the charge has become necessary following the withdrawal of funding for tourism from BCP Council.
The appealing group, in a statement made before the delay was announced, adds: “We understand the challenges that face our local authorities in terms of funding, but it is clear this is not the right course of action for our businesses and guests alike.
“This scheme financially penalises just 75 hotels in the area and makes the destination less appealing to visitors, who will be faced with a nightly visitor charge that can be avoided in neighbouring resorts.
“We acknowledge that we have our part to play, but believe the burden should be spread wider than just 75 hotels, which would then avoid the need to pass levy charges onto our guests, who play a vital part in supporting our businesses and visitor attractions. We want to send a clear message that visitors are welcome in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.”
Although tourist taxes are something with which coach operators travelling abroad will be familiar, they are less common in the UK. Manchester last year became the first city in the UK to start a similar form of charging via an ABID.
BCP ABID has previously claimed that up to 20 other areas of the UK are looking to introduce such levies and believes the charge could become standard nationally over the next few years.
