Published on Tuesday 16 December 2025
BCP Council is seeking clarity from Government after warning that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole could miss out on a new visitor levy intended to specifically help the local visitor economy.
The levy, announced during last month’s budget, would enable authorities run by mayors (Strategic Mayoral Authorities) to charge visitors for overnight trips in hotels, holiday lets and Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs).
The move would mean UK mayors have the same powers as their counterparts in leading international tourist destinations such as New York and Paris, where charges on short-term trips are already issued.
The BCP area is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, with its long, sandy beaches historic towns, quays and local attractions, bringing more than 10 million holiday makers and visitors every year.
But BCP Council has warned that the tourist hotspot could miss out on the new levy and the funding it could provide to support destination management.
This is because it does not currently sit in a Strategic Mayoral Authority area and therefore wouldn’t be able to apply the levy.
BCP Council, as part of the Wessex Partnership, with Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset Councils, has this year been highlighting to government the benefits of devolving funding and powers to the area, and how without it, residents and businesses are missing out on much-needed funding.
The partnership has also made it clear to Government that it is ready for devolution as soon as possible.
Cllr Richard Herrett, BCP Council Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations has written to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, to highlight his concerns and asking for clarification.
Additionally, the council is asking government to confirm that non-Strategic Mayoral Authority areas, such as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, could apply the levy at a local level for local priorities.
The authority is also seeking assurances that any money raised from the charge could be retained and invested in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to support the tourism industry and local economy and not syphoned off outside the area where the levy was applied.
Cllr Herrett said: “We welcome the Chancellor's announcement that a levy will be possible to introduce on overnight stays at hotels, holiday lets and B&Bs.
“We value the 10 million visitors we welcome to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole every year, but we also experience significant additional pressures across the area as a result.
“We need to keep our beaches and towns clean, keep residents and visitors safe and manage parking and other travel into the area. Also, in the face of further cuts to Local Authority budgets our ability to market the destination and host events has been severely impeded.
Tourists are key to our economy, but this costs money, and being able to apply a levy to visitors would mean that our residents aren’t bearing this burden.
“Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK but would not be able to apply this new tourism levy as it currently stands and may not benefit from it.
“We firmly believe that funds raised locally and deployed in partnership with the tourism and hospitality sector are put to best use supporting our local economy and growth agenda.
“We view this is a levy that is for the benefit of the industry, rather than one that is used to prop up local government finances that still need such significant reform.”
All Local Business Improvement Districts in BCP and the areas Destination Management Board are in support of the letter and that money raised locally must be spent within the tourism industry.
Businesses, communities and those with an interest in the measure can have their say on how it should work, with a national consultation running for 12 weeks.