Time to tax the tourists?

"It is not for local taxpayers to fund the police to cope with the influx of summer visitors" (Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer)

Massed and almost out of control tourism has brought parts of Cornwall to a standstill this year.

There has been many column inches published about the matter and the Chief Executive of the democratically unaccountable Community Interest Company, Malcolm Bell, featured in local and UK wide news pleading for tourists to stay away from some parts despite failing to admit that it was the efforts of his own body which had created the problem in the first place. Indeed many feel enough is enough.

So, let's look at some numbers, as they like to say.

In January 2018 and according to PKF Francis Clark, chartered accountant and business advisor, tourism in Cornwall accounts for approx. 12% of Cornwall's GDP, and has a £2 billion visitor spend. At a 20% VAT rate, that generates £400 million a year! That £400 million a year leaves Cornwall. A huge percentage of the £2 billion spend also leaves Cornwall taken by the banks, insurance companies and so on. This was recognised back in October 2002 by Kevin Cahill FRSA in his hard hitting article 'The Killing of Cornwall' which highlighted the extractive nature of Cornwall's economy.

A 'Tourist Tax' is remarkably common elsewhere. In fact, the chances are if you have travelled overseas, you will have paid it, perhaps unknowingly.

Here are just a few of the places which charge it:

https://www.lovemoney.com/guides/52231/tourist-tax-in-europe-what-you-will-pay-in-spain-italy-and-other-hotspots

There are plenty more! In fact, massed tourism has become a hot topic in Barcelona where the locals are heartily sick of it!

Take a read: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/25/tourists-go-home-refugees-welcome-why-barcelona-chose-migrants-over-visitors

So snide comments made about those who are calling for such a tax here in Kernow, calling out all manner of names and also informing that a small levy would drive tourists away are invalidated.

Now for the cruncher. A poll run by 'CornwallLive' (website presence of Trinity Mirror owned newspapers the Cornishman, Cornish Guardian, West Briton and others) has taken the views of over 4,000 people.

These are the results of the poll:

Q. Is Cornwall too busy this year?

Yes - I live here and I can't get anywhere - 74%

Yes - it's ruining my holiday - 3%

No - it's brilliant to have the tourists - 11%

No - it's the same as any other year - 12%

Q. Should tourists pay a tax towards services in Cornwall?

Yes-it's only right that they should pay for services too - 72%

No-tourists already bring money into Cornwall - 19%

No-it would put people of visiting Cornwall - 3%

No-but money should be made available from central government - 6%

Sensible and sustainable tourism, where a small number are not expected to underwrite the extraordinary seasonal demands made on our services, where the most positive experience can be enjoyed without causing massive inconvenience to residents who, contrary to urban myths put about that we all slavishly depend on tourism actually have many other unrelated jobs and commitments to attend to, where the natural and built environment and heritage are respected and protected is the way ahead.

A long time ago, the late David Penhaligon MP, possibly Cornwall's most respected ever politician said these words, 'You need more in an economy than just tourism, ice cream and deckchairs.' He recognised that tourism alone would not pave the streets of Cornwall in gold and indeed it hasn't following many years of it endured by residents of the Duchy.

With the discovery of vast mineral wealth beneath us (lithium, gold etc etc), with the coming of the new space industries, with a massive number of self employed entrepreneurs, with a large agricultural and food packaging and production industry, with a huge creative sector, with a unique culture and heritage with the seas surrounding three sides and much else, Cornwall can excel in so many ways. Let's sort out this highly destructive massed tourism once and for all and draw some real benefits from it.

KernowMatters