December 2, 2025 | 10:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The UK Government plans to introduce a new tourist tax that will apply to visitors staying in various accommodations, including hotels and short-term rentals like Airbnb. The measure is intended to fund local infrastructure and tourism, although it has already prompted concerns from accommodation providers.
Mayors across the UK will be granted the authority to impose a small charge on overnight guests. This tax will apply to all visitors, regardless of nationality, and will be listed as a separate line item on the accommodation bill.
Affected Regions and Proposed Costs
The proposed policy will cover all regions of the UK, with an initial focus on major metropolitan and tourist centers: London, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, West of England, West Yorkshire, North East England, and York and North Yorkshire.
A public consultation process with businesses and local communities is scheduled to conclude in February, which will determine the final structure and cost of the levy.
For instance, the city of Edinburgh in Scotland plans to impose a similar levy of 5 percent of the room rate per night, with a maximum limit of five nights, commencing in July 2026. Meanwhile, in Wales, the tax could reach 1.30 per person per night, equivalent to approximately Rp29,000. For the overall UK, the exact financial obligation has not yet been formally announced, but it is estimated not to exceed five percent of the room rate.
Purpose of the Tourist Tax
The levy aims to raise essential funds to support public transportation, infrastructure, and tourism projects that benefit both local residents and visitors.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan voiced strong support for the measure, calling it "great news for London" and "will cement our reputation as a global tourism and business destination," as reported by Travel + Leisure Asia on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also supported the plan, stating the tax would enable key infrastructure investments, such as cleaning up streets and improving public transportation systems through later operating hours for buses and trams, ensuring a positive visitor experience.
A spokesperson for Mayor Khan confirmed the intention to proceed, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The mayor has been clear [about considering] a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities," as reported by the New York Post.
The Greater London Authority estimates that implementing a £1 tourist tax per night (approximately Rp20,800) could generate annual revenue of up to £91 million (around Rp1.89 trillion).
PUTRI AZ ZAHRA SUHERMAN
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