Keir Starmer urged to give tourist tax powers to local leaders to boost public services

Keir Starmer should give local leaders powers to impose tourist taxes to help fund cash-strapped public services, a new report says.

The Autonomy think-tank warns councils across the country lack the powers to respond to the strain on infrastructure caused by tourism. The report's authors say they should be able to establish "tourist taxes", which already exist in some areas of European holiday hotspots including Spain and France.

They say: "Such a tax would begin to undo the heavy toll that UK Government austerity has heaped upon local councils over the last decade." It also calls for an "English right to roam" covering woodlands, rivers and the green belt. It follows awarning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously called for a mandatory "tourist levy" for those visiting the city with Edinburgh already set to introduce a charge to raise up to £50million-per-year from July 2026.

There are also reports Deputy PM Angela Rayner has been pushing for councils to be allowed to tax tourism. But recently No10 said there are "no plans" for a tourist tax in England.

"We have previously said there's no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

They added: "Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through working with their local tourism sector, using the accommodation Business Improvement District model.

"Tourism obviously plays an important role in the UK's economy. Inbound tourism is the UK's third largest service export. The UK is the seventh most-visited country in the world, and we're committed to continuing to support the sector."

Will Stronge, Chief Executive at the Autonomy Institute, told The Mirror: "Tourism must no longer be treated as an extractive industry built on carbon-intensive travel and precarious labour.

"That’s why we’re calling for, amongst other things, the introduction of a local tourist tax: a fair, targeted measure that would fund the maintenance of public services and protects natural environments.

"It empowers communities to invest in the infrastructure they sustain but too often see exploited for private gain. This is a vital step toward reducing over-tourism, restoring democratic control, and ensuring that leisure contributes to - rather than undermines - climate and social goals."

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