Hospitality bosses have slammed plans to introduce a tourist tax across England.
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, this week suggested that an existing optional fee in some Manchester city centre hotels should be replaced with a compulsory charge for visitors.
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Mr Burnham said he was pushing for the Government to introduce a “proper levy”, as European hotspots such as Spain’s Barcelona and Italy’s Venice have done.
But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, fears it would be another blow to Britain’s battered tourism industry.
She said: “This isn’t just about overseas visitors, it would mean extra charges for people staying in budget places including Travelodges, Premier Inns and seaside caravans.
“The risk is the industry is taxed out of existence.”
Manchester raised £2.8million last year from its city visitor charge of £1 in certain city centre hotels. Members of the Manchester Business Improvement District vote on how funds are used locally.
But a national levy would mean the Government would decide how funds are raised and spent.
Ms Nicholls told The Sun that last month James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, had written to confirm there were no plans for an England-wide levy.
But she fears the Treasury could row-back on that promise because of stretched public finances.
Food sales up
Retail sales stormed ahead of expectations in January, fuelled by Brits spending more on food.
Official figures showed volumes rose 1.7 per cent compared to a 0.6 per cent slip in December.
But sales at non-food stores fell 1.3 per cent as cautious consumers cut back on clothes and big-ticket items.
Original sold
Discount chain The Original Factory Shop has been sold to retail investors Modella Capital.
The firm, which also owns Hobbycraft, has snapped up the 180 shops and 1,800 employees after 17 years of being owned by private equity firm Duke Street. The latest accounts for TOFS showed it was making a £1.7million loss.
Good week
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Boss Jeff Bezos after Amazon MGM took creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise this week.
Bad week
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Anglo American chief Duncan Wanblad, following a hefty $3.1billion (£2.4billion) write-down of De Beers.
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