00:00Yes, a tourist tax to overnight visitors in London could raise more than £350 million a year for the capital, and that's according to new data.
00:11Now, this is higher than previous forecasts, which suggested that such a levy could raise up to a mere £240 million annually.
00:20The latest figure from central London forward, which represents 12 central London local authorities, is based on a 3% levy on the cost of a room, whether that's a hotel or a short-term let.
00:35Mayor of London, Sir Sali Khan, received powers last year to levy a tax on overnight visitors, which he said would directly support the capital's economy and help cement its reputation as a global tourism and business destination.
00:53The analysis was first seen by the local Democracy Reporting Service, and it shows the 12 CLF boroughs alone would raise £275 million, with the remaining authorities yielding an estimated £77 million.
01:10But what do Londoners think of a tourism tax here in the capital?
01:14In theory, it sounds like a good idea, I think, thinking about it for 30 seconds.
01:20You just take account of it as part of your holiday, right?
01:25So you're kind of, yeah, you just see it as like an additional tax, I guess, as it is.
01:30So it doesn't bother me in other countries, and as long as people are aware of it, I guess, before they get here.
01:35But I'd love to know why. Why is he doing that, just to make more money?
01:38Yeah. Well, I think most tourists who come to London, it's kind of maybe a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
01:45It's going to be expensive anyway, and they'll probably hardly notice a little bit extra.
01:48So, yeah, maybe to local councils, to, like, affordable housing.
01:53I mean, people do already pay for TFL when they're on it, though, do you know what I mean?
01:56So if it's just going towards the tubes, that feels a bit unfair, because they're already paying for that when they get on it anyway, and if they're using it.
02:01But I guess if it's the day-to-day running and keeping things going, and even down to councils, individual councils, like getting rid of rubbish and getting rid of, like, bottles of beer that are left outside when, I guess, tourists and people from London go on nights out, then that makes sense to me.
02:17Westminster could raise more than £95 million by itself, according to visitor estimates, with Camden, Kensington and Chelsea and Tower Hamlets all forecast to bring in more than £20 million annually as well.
02:33It has not been decided how money raised from a tourist tax in London would be split between City Hall and local authorities.
02:41Adam Hug, Chair of the CLF and Leader of Westminster City Council, said central London boroughs do play a crucial role in ensuring the visitor economy grows and thrives.
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