Manchester's 'tourist tax' raises £2.8m after first year

The money will be used for marketing campaigns, conferences, festivals and street cleanliness

About £2.8m has been raised from visitors to Manchester a year after the city became the first in the UK to launch a "tourist tax".

The City Visitor Charge, a £1 per room, per night fee, was introduced in April 2023 to pay for measures aimed at attracting more visitors.

Funds have so far been spent on street cleaning and marketing campaigns, spokesman Kumar Mishra said.

He said the charge had made a positive impact on the accommodation sector.

The Manchester Accommodation BID, a body representing 74 hotels and serviced apartments providers in the city, was set up in 2023 to administer funds raised from the charge.

It was formed as part of a push to keep occupancy rates high as more tourist hotels and apartments are built in Manchester - amid fears visitor numbers were not keeping pace with the new developments.

Bed spaces

Data released by the group showed there were about 12,900 bed spaces in the city centre in 2023, up from 10,500 in 2019.

Average occupancy had fallen slightly in that time from 81% in 2019, to 78% last year.

It is predicted close to 6,000 new rooms will become available in the city in the coming year.

Mr Mishra, who is the chairman of Manchester Accommodation BID, said cash raised from the charge had funded a campaign to boost stays during "traditionally lower occupancy months".

New music events and business conferences have also been supported to fill bed spaces, alongside backing for events like the Manchester Flower Festival, Manchester Pride and Chinese New Year.

Training has been offered to security staff, and funds have also gone on extra street cleaning around the city centre.

Mr Mishra said "big plans" were emerging in the next year to make the city even more attractive to visitors.

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