Tourist tax story is nonsense, says councillor

A story in The Argus that discussed the possibility of a tourist tax in Brighton and Hove has been dismissed as ‘nonsense’ by the cabinet member in charge of tourism in the city.

Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, who was elected in Queen’s Park in May, used Twitter to deny the proposal was on the agenda, while the council has issued a release insisting there is no plan to tax tourists visiting the city.

The article reported that residents and businesses are urging councillors to consider taxing tourists £1 for each night they stay in a city hotel or guesthouse.

However, the idea has been comprehensively ridiculed and the council have moved quickly to distance themselves from the story.

Cllr Bowden wrote on Twitter: “The Argus is running nonsense story that B&H is considering introducing a tourist tax.In words of Malcolm Tucker “what bollocks!” We’re not!”

While in an official statement released through the council he wrote: “Following reporter James Wallin’s story on June 13 suggesting we’re considering a tourist tax, I’m happy to say we are not.

“It is not on our agenda. Tourism taxes declared in one or two places seem like an inherently risky idea. I’m guessing people would simply go elsewhere. Such a tax might also discriminate against poorer families.”

The Argus’ reporter James Wallin has rejected the complaint that his article was implying the council were considering a tourist tax, but insists it was merely raising the subject for debate.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on June 14, 2011. Filed under Council News,Featured,Tourism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry