No tourism tax before next election, council says

A tourism tax will not be introduced in Pembrokeshire until at least the next council term in May 2027, it has been announced.

Councils may be able to charge £1.25 per person per night from 2027 under Welsh government plans, with officials previously estimating it could be in place from April of that year.

Pembrokeshire council said this would "provide some certainty" for the industry in the wake of second homes legislation and tax changes.

The Welsh government said local authorities would be given the power to decide whether the visitor levy was right for their area, as "local authorities know their communities best".

For areas which choose to introduce the charge, guests at hotels, B&Bs and self-catered accommodation would pay the proposed visitor levy.

A lower rate of 75p would be charged for hostels and campsites.

It was previously said the money raised would help fund services in tourism hotspots.

Pembrokeshire council's deputy leader Paul Miller said he supported having the option for a visitor levy but felt this was "not the right time".

"Tourism is very important to the Pembrokeshire economy [but] there has been a lot of significant changes in the tax and regulatory regime and now wasn't the time to make another significant change," he said.

"We've got to balance finely competing interests between tourism operators and visitors, and those of us who live here permanently."

He added, however, the council was not ruling out imposing a tourism tax in the future.

Conservative Senedd member Paul Davies said: "Many local people work in the industry or know someone who does.

"Protecting the sustainability of the sector for years to come is key and operators across Pembrokeshire will breathe a sigh of relief at the council's decision not to implement this levy."

He said he worried the tax would be implemented by future council administrations.