Soup Talk: Who Pays for The Lake District?

Visitor Levies in the Lake District:  unpacking tourist taxes

The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget announced that English Mayors will soon have the power to implement a tourist tax on overnight stays in their area.  This raises questions for many destinations including the Lake District:

• Are tourist taxes necessary?
• What could they pay for?
• What would a visitor tax mean in practice?
• How might visitor taxes affect visitors, businesses and communities in the Lake District?
• How have visitor taxes worked elsewhere?
• Are there alternative models for raising funds from visitors?

The introduction of tourist taxes, also known as visitor levies, presents both opportunities and challenges. Tourist taxes can help fund vital services and protect natural landscapes to ensure that tourism remains accessible and beneficial for all.  However, businesses are concerned that the additional expense might deter visitors, and could be difficult to administer.  In this talk, we’ll examine what tourist taxes are, why they are being considered, and how they can be designed and implemented to deliver positive outcomes. We’ll look at legislative developments, practical examples from the UK and abroad, and discuss the key issues that need to be addressed.  We’ll also explore the potential for some alternative means for raising funds, such as congestions taxes, Business Improvement Districts and visitor giving.

Whether you are a policy maker, tourism professional, business owner, or community advocate, this session will provide valuable insights and spark meaningful discussion about the role of visitor levies in shaping a sustainable future for tourism in the Lake District.

Dr Davina Stanford has over 22 years of experiences as a researcher, project manager and educator within the tourism sector. She is known for her expertise in sustainable tourism and her commitment to balancing the needs of local communities, visitors, and the environment in environmentally and culturally sensitive destinations.

Recently, Davina has played a leading role in researching the impact and best practice of visitor levy schemes, including a recent publication for Friends of the Lake District – Who Pays for the Lake District? Her insights have helped inform debates on how levies can support destination management, infrastructure improvements, and community projects while maintaining visitor satisfaction. Previous research and consultancy projects have focussed on tourist behaviour and persuasive communication, including the promotion of sustainable visitor transport in the Lake District National Park.

Further afield, Davina sits on the board of directors of the Ninki Nanka Foundation, a charity based in The Gambia. The primary aim of the charity is to benefit Gambian communities through the responsible development of tourism on the River Gambia.