London is considering implementing a tourist tax that would increase the rates at hotels by five percent each night.
The city’s Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke about the potential at a press conference last week.
“London is the number one destination for tourists in the world. Hotels do very well out of that. What we’re saying is when the tourists come they opt to pay a small level which will help improve the city.”
The city currently has 2,100 hotels with 150,000 hotel rooms, as well as 25,000 Airbnb rentals, which means that the tax could create an extra $302 million for the city.
According to a report from the Greater London Assembly, tourists create a significant “additional demand on public services such as the public transport network, street cleaning, policing and health services.”
Presumably, the extra money would go towards cultural attractions in the city that tourists tend to visit. Berlin passed a similar move in 2014 that was considered as controversial as it is now.
