The Plaid Cymru-controlled Gwynedd Council has suspended plans to introduce a Tourist Tax after a “heated” debate among cabinet members and a record 4,500 objections from local residents.

The authority had proposed a nightly charge of £1.30 for hotel and B&B stays and a 75p charge for hostels and campsites, however the vociferous response from visitors caused councillors to postpone the decision.

“It’s clear the council were surprised that the people who will actually have to pay the tax oppose it,” said UKHospitality CEO Allen Simpson. “They shouldn’t be. Holidaymakers and people who work in the holiday industry know how silly this idea is.” 

“Councils should see this as a warning – introduce a tourism tax and you should expect to lose one of your biggest industries to areas that don’t. And then you can explain to your residents why you thought that taxing away their jobs was a good idea.”