Wales Confirms 2027 Tourist Tax

Charlie News & Events 12 July 2025 | Updated On July 15, 2025 | 0

Wales has officially confirmed it will roll out a tourist tax in 2027, giving local councils the power to charge overnight visitors a small fee to help support the areas they stay in.

While it won’t apply across the entire country, the move signals a growing trend in the UK toward making tourism more sustainable — and more beneficial for locals.

Under the new system:

Tourists staying in hotels, B&Bs, or holiday rentals may be charged £1.30 (€1.50) per night.
Those camping or staying in hostels could pay £0.75 per night.
Only visitors over the age of 18 will be required to pay the tax.

The tax won’t be applied nationally. Instead, each local authority will decide whether to implement it in their area. Some exemptions will apply too, such as if you're staying with family, in your main residence, or staying more than 31 consecutive days.

First proposed in 2018 and later opened for public consultation in 2022, the tax was recently passed into law. It’s now set to take effect in 2027.

Where Will the Money Go?

Wales joins over 60 destinations worldwide — like Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Venice — that already charge visitors to help manage tourism.

In Wales, the funds will be used to:

Improve public infrastructure like toilets, beaches, footpaths, and visitor centres.
Support sustainable tourism projects.
Boost the local economy in areas heavily reliant on tourism.

But one of the more unique uses of the tax revenue is preserving the Welsh language.

Latest government figures show that as of June 2024, only 27.8% of people aged three and up can speak Welsh — the lowest rate in eight years. The government’s goal, under its Cymraeg 2050 plan, is to increase that number to one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The new tax, which could raise to £33 million (€38 million) annually, may help fund language programs, particularly in tourism-heavy Welsh-speaking communities.

Other Places in the UK Introducing Tourist Charges

Wales isn’t alone in this move. Here's a look at where else in the UK you might pay more as a visitor:

Scotland

Edinburgh will become the first Scottish city to implement a tourist tax in 2026.
Tourists will pay 5% of their accommodation cost, potentially raising £50 million (€59 million) annually to support city improvements.

England

England doesn’t currently have the legal framework to introduce a national tourist tax, but cities are finding workarounds — mainly through Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). These are local partnerships funded by levies on businesses, including those in the tourism sector.

Cities using BID schemes to charge visitors include:

Manchester: Introduced the City Visitor Charge in April 2023.
Liverpool: Launched a similar scheme around the same time.
Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, and Tweed Valley: Also have tourism-focused BIDs in place.

In Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch, a £2.00 per night visitor charge was proposed for summer 2025, but hospitality industry backlash has delayed it for now.

According to local authorities, up to 60 other UK destinations could introduce similar charges through the BID system shortly.

For those planning trips to Wales — or anywhere in the UK — keep an eye on local rules, as visitor levies could soon become the norm.

Does a tourist fee bother you when visiting new places? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

Charlie is IaM’s resident Travel & Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager. They craft clear, engaging guides that demystify complex visa and migration rules - and then personally supports each client through every step of their journey.

Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".

When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.