Britain’s picturesque seaside hotspots that are immensely popular among tourists- Salcombe and Dartmouth in Devon are all set to impose a new tourist tax, it has been reported. 

The council is mulling a plan to increase parking charges for holidaymakers visiting these two coastal areas. 

South Hams District Council has caused an uproar with the introduction of a two-tier parking system following heated debates, meaning visitors will now have to pay more for parking.

Charges will go up across all the district’s car parks, but locals will be able to apply for a £5 permit, which will give them a discount every time they park, reports Devon Live. 

The council, aiming to bolster its finances amidst dwindling government support, has prompted worries that visitor expenditure in the district could drop, especially given Councillor Nicky Hopwood’s denouncement of the change as a “tourism tax”.

Council leader Julian Brazil commented: “They have a tourism tax on the Continent, but people still go there!”

Despite concerns, the majority backed the decision, with plans to review its success later on.  Councillor John Birch cautioned against dismissing this essential revenue source and characterised the current predicament as an “all-out attack” on the council’s funds. 

Cllr Hopwood highlighted potential drawbacks for local trade and argued that residents in South Hams should not have to fork out a £5 fee to qualify for their discounts, criticising the policy as “nonsensical”.

Cllr Brazil stated: “It’s a small increase, and we think it’s only fair that visitors who come here and use our services should pay in some way towards those services.”

Several cities in the UK are in the process of implementing the tourism tax.

For instance, Edinburgh city council has also approved a Transient Visitor Levy (TVL), which is expected to be implemented soon. This would charge a percentage (likely around 2-4 percent) per night on accommodation, including hotels, hostels, and Airbnb stays.

Cities like London, Bath, and Oxford have discussed the possibility of a tourism levy, particularly to help fund infrastructure and manage the impact of high visitor numbers. However, no official taxes have been implemented yet.