Gwynedd council has postponed its decision on introducing a tourism tax following an unexpected 6,856 responses during the public consultation phase. The volume exceeded expectations, making it impossible to analyse, process, and consider all responses by the agreed deadline, according to a Cyngor Gwynedd report.
Consultation Response Breakdown
The consultation showed that a majority of businesses and visitors opposed the proposed visitor levy. Among residents, 48.7% supported the levy while 43.5% opposed it. When combined across visitors, residents, and businesses, 22.7% expressed support with 68.5% opposing the measure.
Legal and Scheduling Implications
Cyngor Gwynedd received clear legal advice indicating it cannot proceed with a decision on the
levy by September 2026 as initially planned. The council had targeted introducing the levy by October 2027, allowing for the required 12-month notice period before enforcement.
Proposed Tax Rates and Exemptions
The tourism tax would apply a nightly rate to visitors staying in overnight accommodations including hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering units, holiday caravans, campsites, hostels, and shared rooms. Fees would be £0.90 (75p plus VAT) per person per night for hostels, shared rooms, and tent pitches, and £1.56 (£1.30 plus VAT) for most other accommodations.
Exemptions would apply to visitors under 18 years old, stays exceeding 31 nights in a single booking, and emergency
or temporary housing arranged by local authorities.
Consultation Purpose and Comparison
Cyngor Gwynedd stated the consultation aimed to identify potential impacts of the visitor levy rather than solely measure support or opposition. The county’s 6,856 responses were significantly higher than neighbouring councils: Anglesey received about 2,000 responses and Conwy 1,300.
The council confirmed it was “not currently in a position to make a decision” due to the volume and complexity of feedback. It highlighted the need for further review to assist in reaching an informed determination on the tourism tax proposal.
