Tourist tax

talk about that it's unlikely that Iceland will become carbon neutral as planned by 2040.

And that from 1st of June next year, there will be a new tourism tax on the Golden Circle specifically.

Yes.

Paid by tourists.

Okay, let's just move

on.

Well, last item on the agenda, tourism tax.

So the government has announced that they're planning to levy a tourism tax from, I believe, either 1st of May or 1st of June next year.

We're feeling good.

Listen, I'm going to kick off with a story we were talking about earlier on the programme and this is about the potential visitor tax for the Ryder Cup, which is of course going to be ongoing this time next year.

Limerick Council is writing to the Irish government to request permission to impose a visitor levy on tourists staying in short-term accommodation across the city boundary.

Stephen, what do we make of it?

I think it's a good idea.

I think if we could raise money for the local economy and raise money that can be used for infrastructure for the long-term projects in Limerick City, I think it's a good idea.

Any major cities across Europe have a visitor tax and I think visitors are utilising the resources.

As long as it wouldn't be too prohibitive to... tourism in Limerick we're just now finding our feet we're doing a fantastic job and I think we're kind of getting becoming our own on the wild Atlantic way we are a gateway city so as long as it wouldn't hinder that I think it's a good idea I think it's good

Also, The Caterer reports that Creative Restaurant Group has named Milena Floyd as CEO to lead its next phase of development.

In other industry news, Gwynedd Council has shelved its tourism tax plans after a major backlash, as the caterer reports, proposed overnight levies for hotels and campsites, have been suspended following 7,000 public responses, where 80% of businesses and tourists were opposed.

Legal requirements for notice mean the tax is now unlikely to appear before 2028 at the earliest.

Finally, Hospitality and Catering News reports that Hungry Horse has begun a delivery trial via Uber Eats.

They have like the City of Toronto Act.

But we can put in, and a lot of municipalities are putting in this tourism tax.

The first place I ever heard of it was down in Niagara Falls.

And that's a dumpster fire, the way they did it.

Finally, a look at the wider market.

Propel reports that Simon Rogen is warning that the tourist tax is strangling investment.

The multi-Michelin-starred chef says that local levies on overnight stays make UK expansion non-viable.

Rogan is now looking overseas for new projects, citing the combination of the tourist tax, business rates and rising wage costs as a major deterrent.

It is a stark warning that even the highest-performing independent operators are reaching a breaking point with the domestic tax burden.

Three things to think about before you get on with the day.

If food spend is up but beer volumes are down, is your menu working hard enough to convert every visitor who came in just for a drink into a diner? With drive-thrus outperforming traditional sites by 20%, have you assessed if a drive-to or smaller delivery-focused site could offer a better return than a high street lease? If top-tier talent like Simon Rogan is looking abroad for better margins, have you stress-tested your five-year plan against the new local tourist tax powers? Have a good day.

The Stephen Nolan Show!

On the Nolan Show podcast today with me, Stephen Watson, sitting in for Stephen, we'll have reactions to the findings of the Robert Hamill inquiry and we'll be debating should there be a tourist tax introduced in Northern Ireland.

Now, we are starting with our top story today, and that is the shocking and brutal attack that led to the murder of 25-year-old Robert Hamill, who was going home after a night out in Portadown back in April 1997.

He was set upon by a loyalist mob.

We'll move on to our next story today.

Parts of England will follow in the footsteps of Scotland and Wales after the UK government gave the green light for the regional mayors to impose fees on overnight stays.

Dubbed a tourist tax, some hospitality leaders have hit out at the potential of a fee levied on to visitors claiming it could impact jobs.

But what about Northern Ireland? Should Stormont roll it out? Joining me this morning, Brian Smith, who is a Green Party Belfast City Councillor and businessman, Chris Souter.

Hi there everybody and welcome back here for another podcast and welcome to Britain, my friends, the place where Brits have to pay the tourist tax in their own country.

In fact, the only people who won't be paying the tourist tax is illegal migrants who, of course, do stay in hotels, but they will be exempt.

Isn't that nice? But apparently, anyway, Britain, it doesn't tax people enough.

Did you realize? So this unbelievably stupid government has come up with this new tax, the tourist tax.

So under these plans, mayors and other local leaders in England will be given the power to impose an overnight visitor levy.

on hotels, B&Bs, holiday lets and other accommodations.

[laughs]

Okay, in Italy, you're gonna pay tourist tax per person, per night that you're staying there, in most cases.

Like, I, I think if you're more than a week in one place, then it gets reduced or something like that.

I don't know.

And that is normally paid in cash as well.

Like, some, um, I've had plenty of hotels, you know, have said that, you know, the tourist tax is paid in cash.

I do a lot of, I call all vacation rentals Airbnbs, but they typically require the tourist tax to be paid in cash.

So don't be surprised if you get to your hotel to check in and they say, "And we need another 12 euros in cash." That is the tourist tax.