South West tourism jobs at risk as holiday tax backlash grows
Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Fears are mounting over the future of thousands of South West jobs after a petition was launched opposing plans for a new holiday tax.
Campaigners warn the policy could make UK breaks more expensive and hit the region harder than any other, following Government approval of new powers allowing mayors and councils to introduce a levy on overnight stays.
Tourism plays a central role in the South West’s economy, with around 2.4 million visitors each year supporting approximately 377,000 jobs - more than 12% of the local workforce - across accommodation, food services and the arts.
However, the petition argues the economic impact would reach far beyond the tourism sector. Retail, transport and administrative support services in coastal and rural communities could also face significant knock-on effects.
The policy was first proposed by the Liberal Democrats before being adopted by the Labour Government. Campaigners estimate it could add between £60 and £100 to the cost of a typical week-long family holiday in the UK.
Industry data cited by the campaign suggests 39% of Britons would consider travelling abroad if domestic holidays become more expensive, raising concerns about a potential shift away from UK destinations.
Small businesses are expected to be among the hardest hit. The petition highlights that smaller accommodation providers - who make up the majority of businesses in parts of Somerset and Devon - could face new compliance costs alongside a possible decline in visitor numbers. This, in turn, could mean fewer shifts for hospitality workers and reduced trade for local high streets.
The campaign has already gathered momentum, with nearly 1,000 people signing the petition in its first week. It was launched by Exmoor farmer and Conservative campaigner James Wright, who is calling for the plans to be halted.
James Wright said: “West Somerset and Mid Devon relies on tourism to sustain jobs and incomes. Even a small shift towards overseas travel will cost local jobs, cut wages, and damage already fragile economies. The Liberal Democrats who run our council’s must rule out raising a holiday tax or jobs will be at risk.”
Andrew Griffith MP, the shadow business and trade secretary, also criticised the proposal, saying: “By making British holiday breaks more expensive, Labour is driving tourists abroad and punishing the small businesses that are the heart of our coastal towns and rural villages. It is a reckless policy of economic self-harm that puts thousands of local jobs at risk and ignores the reality of the South West’s tourism sector.”
The petition is available at https://bit.ly/stoptheholidaytax
( Photo: Pixabay Library 📸 )