Tourist tax could see more investment in Liverpool’s cultural sector

Businesses in Liverpool are being asked to vote on a tourist tax. The ballot opens on March 27th to introduce a £2 overnight levy.

Transcript

00:00A vote is to be held asking hospitality businesses in Liverpool city centre if

00:05they wish to adopt a new tourism based levy. A proposed £2 a night charge on

00:10visitors to Liverpool could help to scale up its events and help the city

00:14compete on the international stage. That's the message from the city's hotel

00:18and cultural sector as it prepares to vote on the levy as part of the city's

00:22accommodation bid. The so-called tourist tax could be in place by June.

00:25Administered and managed by Liverpool's accommodation bid it could see £6

00:29million invested into the city's visitor economy, public realm and events

00:34calendar. If successful the term would begin on the 1st of June lasting until

00:402027. One of the ambitions is to use the funds generated by the charge to support

00:46major events in the city. These attract a national and international audience,

00:50increase footfall and the profile of Liverpool as well as encouraging longer

00:55stays and visits to the city. Chief Executive of National Museums Liverpool

00:59Laura Pye said she believes the levy could see more investment in the city's

01:03cultural sector. She said it would allow us to do some of the biggest stuff we

01:08want to do in the city. She continued you have to keep investing to keep

01:11Liverpool on the front foot as a great destination. Liverpool City Council's

01:17organised the ballot for the four weeks leading up to and including the day of

01:21ballot on Thursday 24th of April. All of those businesses which will be covered

01:26by the amended levy if approved will be entitled to vote in the ballot and will

01:31receive ballot papers. The council will hold the ballot in accordance with the

01:35legal requirements and has appointed Civica electoral services to deliver it

01:40on the council's behalf. The ballot will be taken entirely by post.