WAR has broken out between hoteliers in Bournemouth after the seaside spot became the first to vote in favour of a tourist tax.
Holidaymakers are set to be charged an extra £2.40 a night as part of the “rushed-through” scheme.
A postal ballot on the council-backed tax passed earlier this year, with 16 hotels voting in favour and 15 against.
But in a last-minute U-turn, plans have been halted after hospitality workers claimed the voting system was flawed.
Supporters of the tax argue that it’s less than a cup of coffee and the additional charge will bring in an extra £2.6 million a year.
The cash will be reinvested into marketing and placemaking and will help to support local events like the Bournemouth air show.
Those who voted against the new tax insist it will drive cash-strapped customers away.
A decision is expected to be revealed in the autumn.
Louisa Metcalfe, who was visiting with her family from Somerset told The Telegraph: “Why here? Not exactly welcoming is it?
“I understand places like Venice doing it if overrun with tourists, but Bournemouth surely wants more people to come.”
Fellow holidaymaker Christopher Boyd agreed: “The vast majority won’t fancy paying extra to visit a place in their own country, I think it’ll sadly go someway to killing the town.”
David Howard, who works at Leisureplex Hotels, said his customers aren’t happy with the levy.
To make matters worse, the new rule will only apply for hotels with a rateable value of more than £40,000.
Airbnbs, which already pose a threat to the traditional hotels, will also dodge the extra charge.
John Butterworth, who has worked in the hotel industry for most of his life, said his guests are choosing to stay in Airbnbs to avoid the fee.
He slammed the tax as “completely unfair and unjust” and said it gives Airbnb owners “even more of an advantage”.
His wife Josephine said the £2.40 tax has put a “huge negative cloud” over Bournemouth and believes the town will suffer as a result.
Every hot weekend, bank holiday or school holiday our beaches and New Forest National Park are ravaged by selfish visitors. Parking is abused, grass and vital habitats are parked on.
Bournemouth resident
Neighbouring coastal towns like Christchurch and Poole have been watching the drama unfold after fearing that the tax will be inflicted on their tourists.
Manchester introduced a £1 per night tax (plus VAT) and the city has generated £2.8million in its first year.
Rosie Radwell, chairman for the local Accommodation Business Improvement District (Abid) insisted that the tax is “future-proofing” the seaside town.
David Bailey, president of the BH Area Hospitality Association, believes the cash injection will make Bournemouth a “nicer place to visit”.
They insist that the money will fund tourist attractions which will draw in more visitors and will fill hotel rooms.
Ian Tyrrell, a long-term Bournemouth resident, fully backs the tourist tax and said he would rather holidaymakers are taxed rather than residents.
Local Maris Lake launched a petition calling for a tax to be introduced on anyone entering a set zone in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole council area.
He claimed visitors “abuse” the beaches because they are free and hopes a tax would “shift their mentality”.
And many other Bournemouth residents in the seaside hotspot agreed that reckless visitors had ruined their beaches.
One fuming local wrote: “Every hot weekend, bank holiday or school holiday our beaches and New Forest National Park are ravaged by selfish visitors. Parking is abused, grass and vital habitats are parked on.”
Another wrote: “I’m sick of finding rubbish left on the beach and I’m sick of people burying their BBQ left overs and fat in the sand.
“Visitors and residents used to be so much more aware, now they just could not care less.”
