Joe Robertson MP is urging local tourism and hospitality businesses to share their views on the Government’s proposed new “tourism tax”, warning it could have significant implications for the Island’s visitor economy.
The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to give Combined Mayoral Authorities in England new powers to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy on visitor accommodation. Together with Hampshire, the Isle of Wight is set to get a new Mayor in 2028.
The levy could apply to most forms of short-term, commercially let accommodation used by leisure or business visitors, including hotels, guesthouses, and holiday lets, regardless of size or price. Charges could be set as a flat fee per night or as a percentage of the accommodation cost.
Mr Robertson, who speaks on tourism related matters for the Conservatives in Parliament, is against the proposed tourism tax because he says it will heap more cost and pressure on the tourism and hospitality sectors, which are already among the most heavily taxed in Europe. He says that coastal communities which rely on a strong visitor economy like the Island would be hardest hit.
Mr Robertson said:
“Overnight visitors play an important role in the Isle of Wight’s economy, accounting for 38% of total economic activity and supporting thousands of local jobs and businesses. We already have expensive ferry costs to contend with, we do not need more tax raising powers created by the Government. The tourism tax has the potential to suppress visitor demand and place an additional burden on our hospitality industry at a time when many local businesses are seeing their business rates go up.”
Mr Robertson has called for local residents, businesses, and stakeholders to ensure their views are clearly represented in the consultation process.
The consultation on the Overnight Visitor Levy is open until 18th February 2026, and is available online via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation portal – Overnight Visitor Levy consultation – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Citizen Space
Britain has always been a country of taxes.
How long before a F art tax is introduced,
that’s about the only thing we ain’t taxed for.
Where will it end? Labour TAX TAX and moreTAX. Heard a rumour they are running consultations about taxing the air we breathe. Election now Qugily Starmer and Liebor must go they are killing Britain.
Many island businesses are charging much more
for beverages and meals etc than the big smoke
charge, some island businesses are even sticking
on service charges.
Business rates and rents are much less on the island
yet many businesses are GREEDY!
There is a restaurant in Sandown with a view of a
derelict hotel that charges £3 for a cup of tea.
Yes £3
Businesses are putting themselves out of business.
typical labour – more taxes, which they shove in their pockets, which means less money in the pockets of the tourists and subsequently less money to spend on the island
less tax means a boost to economies – you dont need a degree to work that out
Talk about tax your country to death. If ever anyone was in doubt, please help get rid of starmer and his ship of fools as soon as possible. They have to go away before we all drown in their deepening sea of taxes.
Yet another anti-business tax from this hopeless ‘Government.’
A tourist tax will certainly not help the island’s tourist trade
Disgusting!
Tourists to the Island already face a hefty levy called the ferry prices
Tourism Businesses on the Island already pay the DISGRACEFUL ‘Destination BID Levy’, for which the vast majority gain no direct benefit. Various exemptions were permitted, either due to the fact that they were part=time or small businesses, or, alternatively, they were a Nationwide Business (e.g. TESCO) who, apparently, do not benefit from the Tourism Trade (I.e., they told Will Myles and his Cronies to take a hike). NOTHING has been of a benefit to the majority of Island Tourism and `leisure Businesses, apart from a few FAVOURED (and no doubt connected with people in the Know) firms. The Destination BID should be immediately scrapped and any idea of a Tourism Levy (TAX) should be chucked into the nearest bin!
The Island struggles as it is to attract Tourists, and even the ‘venerated’ Will Myles, has been recorded here, and on other printed forays, saying that Tourist numbers are down year-on-year, but STILL expects to receive his exorbitant salary for ‘promoting’ Island Visitors!!!
Ye go kill tourism for good it’s already dead on the island..What with £224 return plus ferry fees how the fuck is that possible £91 going £133 coming back !!! how and why it’s the same fucking time and distance..and that’s both of them.Dead funnel stopped all companies discounts now so only shitelink giving us a bit of a break but for how long ??? who knows.I know people who don’t use dead funnel anymore even if they need to go to Southampton.
Never ceases to amaze me, how so many people can read but fail to absorb facts.
Other tourist areas have introduced tourist taxes, no reduction in tourist numbers, in a similar fashion to now paying to take a bag on a flight. Didn’t stop people flying, did it? It’s a money-go-round. If you have any money, that is.
But on the sticky subject of taxes, the economy etc. I’d just like to point out as a FACT that the tax ‘burden’ (ie, the money we need to pay against the money we get in) at the end of 14 year Tory rule was the highest it’s been since 1948 when we needed to rebuild after the war.
If Labour (or anyone else for that matter) is going to try to fix that taxation will have to rise.
Blame the Tories.
And if you’re looking for a quick fix, try taxing those who benefitted from 14 years of under-taxing the rich and the super-rich, just so they could say ‘we saved you a penny in income tax, tuppence on your pint. Bow and say thank you.’
Then we could all afford a holiday.