WTTC warns that new UK tourism levies would dent growth, restrict jobs and reduce competitiveness

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the private sector in the travel & tourism industry, has cautioned against the introduction of new local visitor levies in England, warning that additional costs and fragmented local policies risk fewer jobs, as well as further weakening the UK’s competitiveness at a time when the sector’s growth is already lagging behind global recovery.

WTTC’s Warning
- Date: 11 February 2026
- Context: UK government is consulting on proposals to allow Mayoral Strategic Authorities to introduce overnight visitor levies.

WTTC Position:
Strongly cautions against new levies, arguing they would:
- Dent growth in the tourism sector.
- Restrict job creation.
- Reduce the UK’s global competitiveness.

Key Data Points
Global vs UK Growth:
- Global Travel & Tourism GDP growth (2025): 6.7%.
- UK growth (2025): 4.3% → 36% below global average.

Employment Impact:
- Travel & Tourism supports 4.5 million UK jobs (1 in 8 nationwide).
- New levies risk diverting jobs and visitor spending to other destinations.

Competitiveness Ranking:
- UK ranks 113th out of 119 countries for price competitiveness (World Economic Forum, 2024).

Leadership Statement
- Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO:
- Higher levies push travellers and businesses toward more affordable destinations.
- Jobs and investment would shift outside the UK.
- Policymakers should instead focus on reinvesting existing tourism revenues and reducing visitor costs.

Broader Concerns
- Fragmentation: Allowing local authorities to set levies could create inconsistent policies across regions.
- SME Impact: Small hotels, restaurants, and shops would bear the brunt of reduced demand.
- Price Sensitivity: Travellers increasingly prioritize cost and value, even sustainability-minded ones.

Takeaway
WTTC urges the UK to avoid new visitor levies and instead strengthen competitiveness through:
- Lowering cost burdens.
- Ensuring stable national policy.
- Reinvesting tourism-generated revenues effectively.

Without such measures, WTTC warns that levies could slow growth, reduce visitor numbers, and undermine one of the UK’s most important export sectors.