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Overnight visitor levies have not hurt hotel occupancy in Manchester

A Tourism Management study cited by the outlet found Manchester hotels saw no drop in occupancy after the £1 per room per night levy began in 2023.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

A study cited by Guardian Business says Manchester hotels have not seen reduced occupancy since the city introduced an overnight visitor levy in 2023, addressing concerns from the UK hospitality sector that such fees would deter tourists.

Manchester became the first UK location to roll out an overnight levy, charging £1 per room per night in the city centre, and the reported analysis found no falloff in hotel occupancy following the change.

The article notes similar levies across European tourist hubs were introduced to curb over tourism, but it says trips to destinations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Venice have risen consistently over the past decade, even as Amsterdam charges an additional 12.5% for an overnight stay.

In the UK policy debate, UKHospitality estimates that a proposed 5% tax on overnight stays in England would lead to 12m fewer visits and 33,000 job losses, while some English areas are expected to stay levy-free after mayors opposed the idea.

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