Lakes tourism tax 'could increase visitors'

The Lake District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

A charity believes more people would visit a national park if tourism levies were introduced.

Friends of the Lake District wants to see tourists pay a charge of one or two pounds - either on overnight stays or vehicle use - to raise money for local services.

The charity has published a report called Who pays for the Lake District?, highlighting the "invisible burden" of tourism on the area's environment and infrastructure.

But the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said it has "no current plans to implement a tourist tax", while others fear it would deter visitors.

About 18 million people travel to the national park in Cumbria every year.

While visitors bring money to the region, increased tourism can put pressure on the local environment and strain existing infrastructure.

'Higher numbers'

The report reignites the debate about how the area balances the positives and negatives of being a hugely popular tourist destination.

Mike Hill, Friends of the Lake District chief executive, said: "We’ve found in much of our research that around the world, where a visitor levy has come in, it's actually resulted in higher visitor numbers coming.

"Suddenly the footpaths are better, or there’s free electric buses that you can use to ride on, or there are rangers that can help stop the littering problems."

But Jonathan Denby, owner of South Lakes Hotels, fears a charge "will put people off coming" to the Lakes.

Jonathan Denby owns several hotels and B&Bs in the Lake District

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, he said: "It's a thoughtful report and makes some good points, but ignores two elephants in the room.

"We pay VAT on accommodation and meals of 20%. The rest of Europe, where they take examples from, pay 10%, as does Japan.

"We're already taxed much more than our international competitors.

"If we're to consider a levy then it should be on the basis our VAT is the same as everyone else's, at 10%. "

He also wants AirBnB providers to pay VAT, believing it would be more lucrative than a tourism tax.

Mr Hill said: "We really don’t think that tourism businesses are going to suffer if we bring in a small charge. We’re talking about a quid or two.

“That gives you a brilliant, huge pot of money to spend on making the Lake District more attractive to tourists."

Dr Celia Caulcott, chair of the Lake District National Park Partnership (LDNPP), said the group "recognise the need to secure new investment to support local communities, infrastructure and to help move people around sustainably".