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METRO MAYOR STEVE ROTHERAM IS LEADING THE CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT TO DEVOLVE FURTHER POWERS TO THE CITY REGION 04:00, 03 Jun 2025 Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is leading the calls for the
government to allow areas like the Liverpool City Region to adopt a tourist tax. A coalition of mayors from across England – led by Mr Rotheram – is calling on ministers to grant devolved
powers to explore and implement a visitor levy in their regions. The move comes just over a month after Liverpool’s hotels and serviced apartments voted to introduce an extra £2 overnight
charge for people staying in the city. The group of mayors, representing nearly 21 million people, said a tourist tax in their regions would unlock vital funding for tourism and cultural
infrastructure, empower regional growth, and reduce dependence on central government funding. In the Liverpool City Region, which hosts over 60 million visitors annually, a visitor levy
could raise nearly £11m per year to build on the success of international events like Eurovision 2023, which generated £54 million in direct economic impact. Mr Rotheram said a small charge
on overnight stays “would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special.” In a joint statement, the mayors of Liverpool City Region, Greater
Manchester, London, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, and the North East urged the government to consider including enabling legislation in the forthcoming English Devolution Bill or a
specific Finance Bill, which would give local authorities the freedom to design and introduce a locally administered visitor levy. Currently, English legislation does not allow cities to do
so. In April, members of the Liverpool Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) agreed to proposals to add £2 to the bills of those staying in city hotels. Article continues below
According to ABID, a £2 city visitor charge is projected to bring in £9.2m over two years, of which £6.7m will go towards supporting the city’s visitor economy through a subvention fund. The
£2 charge will be managed and administered by hotels and serviced accommodation, either when guests check in or at the end of their stay. The business improvement district model is the only
one that allows for an overnight charge to be implemented in England. It allows for the raising of a levy under government legislation and requires a clear and transparent business plan for
the proposed use of those funds. Regional mayors want the government to agree to their request to help support major cultural events and improve infrastructure vital to the visitor economy.
The group is now calling for rapid engagement with the Treasury and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, alongside input from business and tourism stakeholders, to move the proposal
forward and shape a more sustainable future for England’s visitor economies. Mr Rotheram said: “The Liverpool City Region is a global icon of creativity, culture, and character – attracting
more than 60 million visitors every year and supporting a £6.25 billion visitor economy. Article continues below "That’s something to be incredibly proud of, but it also comes with
pressures on our infrastructure and services. “A small charge on overnight stays – the kind most of us wouldn’t think twice about when travelling abroad – would give us the power to reinvest
directly into the things that make our area so special. From unforgettable events to the everyday essentials that support them, it’s about keeping our region vibrant, competitive, and ready
to welcome the world.”