The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill has been referred to the Finance Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the general principles of the Bill.
Terms of Reference
The Committee is considering:
- The general principles of the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill and whether there is a need for legislation to deliver the Bill’s stated policy objective, which is to:
- ensure a more even share of costs to fund local services and infrastructure that benefit visitors between resident populations and visitors;
- provide local authorities with the ability to generate additional revenue that can be invested back into local services and infrastructure to support tourism;
- support the Welsh Government’s ambitions for sustainable tourism.
- Any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions, and whether the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment take adequate account of them.
- Whether there are any unintended consequences arising from the Bill.
- The Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum.
- The appropriateness of the powers in the Bill for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation (as set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum).
- The balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation.
- Any matter related to the quality of the legislation.
- The indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions the Welsh Government intends to bring forward at Stage 2.
Information about the Bill
If passed, the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill will:
- Require visitor accommodation providers in Wales to be registered on a register of visitor accommodation providers.
- Provide local authorities with a discretionary power to charge a visitor levy on overnight stays in visitor accommodation (‘the levy’).
- Require local authorities to consult before introducing, changing or abolishing the levy.
- Make visitor accommodation providers liable to pay the levy to the Welsh Revenue Authority.
- Provide a basis for the calculation of the levy and its collection.
- Require local authorities to use the net proceeds for the purposes of destination management and improvement in its area and report on the use of the proceeds.
- Provide the Welsh Ministers with a power to extend the levy to berths and moorings by regulations.
How to share your views
To submit your views, please complete the online form.
The closing date for sharing your views is 16.00 on Friday 10 January 2025.
https://business.senedd.wales/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?ID=576
