I sold Kiss Me Quick hats at 14, we need cuts in hospitality and tourism VAT to attract people to Blackpool

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb has renewed his call for cuts in VAT for hospitality and tourism in a bid to increase visitors to the resort.

He was speaking after King Charles announced the Overnight Visitor Levy Bill at the opening of Parliament this week. If the bill is passed this year, tourists in England could be charged a levy on overnight stays - similar to rules already in place in Scotland and Wales where it is collected by local authorities.

However, Mr Webb said the continued success of Blackpool and other tourist hotspots depended on a reduction in VAT for tourism and hospitality, in line with other European countries. He said: "Tourism supports thousands of jobs in Blackpool and gives young people opportunities to join the jobs ladder, as was the case for me; I sold Kiss Me Quick hats at the age of 14."

Mr Webb, who is chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for hospitality and tourism, added: "The tourism pound reaches far beyond hotels and guest houses and supports pubs, cafes, restaurants, theatres, attractions and transport links across our area.

"Before the introduction of the overnight visitor levy bill, the concerns of the sector must be taken seriously, because additional costs and burdens will hit them the hardest. If we are serious about supporting British tourism, I repeat my call for the Chancellor to reduce VAT for hospitality and tourism in line with other European countries."

The proposed levy for England would be collected by hotels and holiday rentals on behalf of the local authority with funds invested in the town or city. Edinburgh will become the first UK city to charge overnight visitors in July 2026.

Wales will start doing the same next year and while the levy is yet to be introduced in England, legal loopholes have allowed Manchester and Liverpool to charge a small overnight stay fee. But Ian White from StayBlackpool - which represents hotel and guest house owners in the resort - says administering a levy scheme could prove a headache.

He said: "While the sector remains so fragmented and mainly beyond any form of documented or otherwise recorded database of such properties, how can such a levy be administered?

“While Blackpool boasts one of its MPs as chair of the All Political Party Committee on Tourism, it remains frustrating that there is the same message being delivered from Westminster about the question of a registration form being clarified. The last thing that is needed is the large online travel agents doing the job of collecting these funds."

However, Mr White believes hotel and guest house owners could be looking forward to a good summer. With conflict in Iran causing rising air fares and a shortage of jet fuel leading to the cancellation of tens of thousands of flights, he says millions of holidaymakers could elect to stay in the UK this summer.

He said: "It's too early to say for sure what will happen, but there is some cause for optimism. The lack of availability of flights could mean people staying here instead of having a foreign holiday. It is a very delicate situation, though, one disaster could change things overnight and the current situation with the Government is just causing more uncertainty."