Jeremy Clarkson warns Brits could be charged more for UK staycations under new ‘tourist tax’

Jeremy Clarkson has criticised government plans to grant mayors the power to introduce additional charges on things such as hotels, holiday lets, and B and Bs.

The government has said that the plans are aimed at giving local governments additional options to raise money, with Secretary of State for Housing Angela Rayner saying: "This measure will give mayors the choice to raise and reinvest funding where it’s needed most.

"It’ll help support the local services, public spaces and attractions that both residents and visitors rely on, with decisions taken by people who know their area best."

It's not yet in force, with plans drawn up for some local authorities to set out plans by 2028, but the policy has already drawn criticism from the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as from Clarkson.

The former Top Gear presenter claimed that the policy will mean that brits looking to holiday in the UK will be hit with the additional charge, which may price many out of holidaying altogether, or choosing to go abroad instead.

“There’s the economics to consider. It’s reckoned that a 5 per cent tax would raise around £600 million a year," he told The Sun.

Clarkson criticised the impact of the policy on tourist hotspots (Getty Stock)

“But how many people, when faced with the prospect of an increased bill, will stay at home, or go elsewhere? Some say it’ll be so many that the gross revenue from tourism will fall by £700 million.”

He went on to say that many communities across the UK are less than enthusiastic about the prospect of tourists.

“People are clamouring for fewer tourists," said Clarkson. "And the government responds by saying mayors can impose a tourist tax and then spend the money on making everything more attractive to tourists.

“So, in one fell swoop, they annoy the locals in tourist hotspots, and they put even more pressure on the nation’s businesses.”

But while Clarkson might be local governments have welcomed the measure, saying it will improve their ability to raise funds and support their own tourism sectors.

Clarkson criticised the policy (Joe Maher/Getty Images for The NTA's)

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "This is something I’ve been calling for over many years, so I’m really pleased the government is taking forward plans to give Mayors the power to introduce a visitor levy locally."

He added: "Visitor levy mechanisms are often used in many great cities across the globe to improve the visitor offer and attract even more people to enjoy the experience.

"It would give us more money to support the things that make our visitor economy such a success, while helping our businesses and communities to benefit from its continued growth."

The announcement was also welcomed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said: "London’s visitor economy is a huge success story, supporting jobs, businesses and investment across the capital and the wider country, and I have long argued that London should have the same flexibility as other major global cities to raise and invest funding locally."

The policy would see the introduction of a percentage charge on holiday lets, as well as B and B's and letting platforms such as Airbnb.

This would mean that the upfront cost would be higher, and the money raised would go into further developing the area.