Liverpool (Europe Brief News): Liverpool implemented a “tourist tax,” charging overnight visitors a £2 fee per stay starting June 2025. The move follows a successful ballot among city hoteliers and serviced apartment operators, with 59% of the 83 participating businesses voting in favor of the new City Visitor Charge.
Individuals who stay overnight in Liverpool will now be required to pay a £2 tourist tax.Reports indicate that the funds generated will be overseen by the Accommodation BID, an organization that manages Liverpool’s tourism sector.
A recent ballot conducted by Accommodation BID, representing 83 hotels in the city, revealed that most voters were in favor of a £2 City Visitor Charge.
Accommodation BID, which also includes serviced apartment providers in Liverpool, estimates that the levy could generate £9.2 million over the next two years, with £6.7 million allocated to enhancing the city’s visitor economy.
According to multiple reports, this measure received backing from a majority of hotel owners within the city. In a recent vote, 59% of the 83 hotels in Liverpool favored the new tax, with a voter participation rate of 53%.
The Liverpool BID Company, which oversees Accommodation BID, indicated that the charge would significantly boost the city’s tourism and visitor economy when it is implemented in June.
The tax will be managed and collected by hotels and serviced accommodation providers, either at check-in or upon guest departure.
Officials have deemed this initiative “essential for the city’s vibrancy and its economy.” Accommodation BID Liverpool chair Marcus Magee declared the voting process as a significant advancement for the visitor economy sector to participate in major decisions.
Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, which is responsible for administering this charge, stated, “We have always maintained that the industry should voice their opinion on whether they want this levy, as they are the ones implementing it,” as reported by BBC.
He further remarked, “The experience of other European cities indicates that this approach will turn overnight stays into significant investment, allowing us to transform that into world-class and leading events.”
Which city in England introduced a tourist tax before?
In April 2023 Manchester established itself as the first UK destination to implement a nightly tourist fee of £1 per night which generated £2.8 million its initial year. Liverpool’s recent charge is a part of a larger trend, with other cities, including Glasgow, considering similar actions.
