The prospect of introducing a tax on tourist visitors to London could be used as a weapon amongst candidates in the city’s mayoral elections to be held next year.
Daniel Korski – a tech entrepreneur and a former adviser to ex-British prime minister David Cameron – is looking to win the race to be Conservative Party candidate in next year’s election; going up against current mayor – Labour’s Sadiq Khan who is seeking a third term in office.
A number of cities and regions in Europe charge an extra fee to visiting tourists – usually added to hotel prices – with the additional money going back into tourism investment.
However, it has proved a divisive issue – with stakeholders in Wales at loggerheads for the past 12 months over the proposed introduction of a tourism levy there.
Mr Korski wants London to have a small tax – up to £2 per visitor – although he wants to see the extra money go to funding the Metropolitan Police, which may prove controversial given its recent track record.
Meanwhile, according to the London Evening Standard, British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he will consider reinstating the VAT refund scheme for non-EU overseas visitors to the English capital, after businesses pleading with him to restore tax-free shopping for international visitors and stop an exodus to mainland Europe.
