Tourism tax plans delayed after thousands respond to consultation

A council looks set to delay its decision on imposing a tourism tax in Gwynedd after a public consultation prompted thousands of responses from visitors, residents and businesses.

A report to Cyngor Gwynedd said the number of responses - of which there were 6,856 - exceeded expectations.

This meant it had "not been possible to analyse, process and consider all the consultation responses" within an agreed deadline, it said.

The majority of businesses and visitors who responded said they were opposed to imposing the visitor levy, while 48.7% of residents supported it.

The council, which has to give 12 months' notice before imposing such a levy, had been aiming for October 2027.

The authority was due to present a report to councillors on Thursday and then give notice to the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) of any plan to introduce the levy.

The report said it had received "clear legal advice that it is not possible to proceed with a decision on the levy in September, 2026", as originally intended.

It said the response to the public consultation had been "significant" compared with the numbers received by neighbouring councils for Anglesey (2,000), and Conwy (1,300).

Figures showed:

• 48.7% of Gwynedd residents supported the visitor levy with 43.5% opposing it
• 14.7% of businesses supported it, while 79.5% had opposed
• 10.7% of visitors supported, with 79.9% opposed
• 22.7% combined visitors, residents and businesses supported it, and 68.5% opposed

The visitor levy, or tourism tax, would charge a nightly rate for people staying overnight in visitor accommodation, such as hotels, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation, holiday caravans, campsites, hostels and shared accommodation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Fees for hostels, shared rooms and tent pitches would be 75p + VAT (£0.90) per person per night, while most other types of accommodation would be charged at £1.30 + VAT (£1.56).

Exceptions would include visitors under the age of 18 and those staying in tent pitches or shared accommodation, and where a stay lasts more than 31 nights within a single booking or where accommodation is emergency or temporary housing arranged by a local authority.

Considering the consultation extension of 11 days from 20 May to 26 July, the high number of responses, and the range of issues raised, the report to this Thursday's full council meeting stated it was "not currently in a position to make a decision".

It also pointed out the consultation was not about "whether respondents were 'for' or 'against'" the levy.

"Rather, it was a consultation to identify the potential impacts of introducing a visitor levy in the county and to assist in reaching a decision," it added.