Written question WQ98614
- Asked by
- Darren MillarConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Finance
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 13 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to the estimate by the Taxpayers' Alliance that the Visitor Levy may inflict a £359 million hit to the Welsh economy when it is implemented?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Finance (Elin Jones)
As stated in our manifesto, we will work collaboratively with councils on the implementation of the visitor levy, including to ensure that more money reaches frontline services. Impact assessments for the levy are available on the Welsh Government webpages including an independent economic impact assessment which uses robust modelling and sets out a transparent range of impacts - this evidence-based range is significantly smaller than estimates put forward by the Taxpayers Alliance figure.
Local authorities will decide whether or not to implement a levy in their area based on their local circumstances. The levy is a modest, discretionary local charge, and will support destination management and improvement, with proceeds retained locally to invest in the visitor economy.