Businessman argues case for York to have a tax on tourists

City centre-based business owner Keith Rozelle has drawn up a case for charges which could be re-invested into York to improve it for residents and as a tourist destination.

The sales and marketing professional told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) York residents were getting a raw deal compared to other tourist hotspots that collect visitor levies.

It follows calls from York Central MP Rachael Maskell and senior Labour councillors for the city to follow Manchester and cities on the continent and introduce charges on visitors.

But those calls have sparked discussion on the merits of an additional nightly charge on hotel bills, with some businesses and York’s hospitality industry body warning it could harm tourism.

Mr Rozelle’s business case analysed official figures and found York’s ratio of yearly tourists to residents, 43 to one, was higher than Amsterdam’s, 21 to one, and Barcelona’s, 20 to one.

But unlike those cities and others including Venice and Edinburgh as of 2026 following a change in Scottish law, York does not collect a charge on tourists.

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Mr Rozelle said York was left having to cope with almost nine million visitors a year but unlike other destinations was being denied the resources it needed to cope.

Mr Rozelle said: “York’s a fabulous place, but I think the people living here are getting a raw deal.

“I’m a business person and I totally understand why businesses might be uncomfortable with the notion of a tourist tax.

“But tourists are coming here and taking advantage of York’s amazing offer, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for them to contribute to the enormous effort that goes into the upkeep of the city.

“We need to have resources to be able to preserve York’s heritage for our children and for people who want to bring their children here in the future too.

Keith Rozelle, owner of York-based business Sales Marvel Ltd. Picture is from Keith Rozelle

“My wife and I go to Malta most years and we’ve been paying tourist taxes there for 10 years, this isn’t a new thing.

“When we go there we see the Eco-Contribution as an item on our bill, so we’re conscious that we’re being asked to contribute something and know it’s going to good use.

“There’s an overwhelming demand for people coming into York and we don’t want to stem that, but it needs to be supported and enabled, we can’t be complacent.

“We need to be more confident about our offer, we’re a world-class city, I don’t think a tourist tax would put off the demographic that wants to come here.

“So we should really go for it and even set it at £3 or £4, not just £1 or £2.

“And even if it does put some people off I’d rather have seven million people coming a year who are respectful and are happy to contribute to the city.

“The tax should be collected by a BID and it should be spent in the city centre, 99 per cent of the tourists aren’t going to the suburbs.

“This should be unashamedly about raising money for the city centre, a BID seems like the most appropriate way of doing it and we don’t need to create a whole industry dedicated to implementing it if those organisations already exist.”

York Central’s Labour MP Rachael Maskell told Parliament nightly charges on visitors could raise up to £3.4 million to spend on easing the pressure tourism has on public services and housing.

York Council Leader Cllr Claire Douglas said moves should be made towards introducing a charge after 80 per cent of respondents to a Budget consultation said they would support it.

But some including The Milner’s General Manager Andy Barnsdale and a Hospitality Association York spokesperson said it could put visitors off and harm an industry already struggling with rising costs.

York Council does not currently have the power to levy a tax, with a City Visitor Charge introduced through a new accommodation BID in Manchester.

A Government spokesperson told LDRS they have no plans to give councils the power to collect a tourist tax.