Tourists have turned our historic city in a Harry Potter hellhole with streets full of gift shop tat...but here is how we're getting our own back
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Fed up locals in one of Britain's most historic cities have backed calls to tax tourists - with rowdy throngs of stag and hen parties causing 'carnage' and their streets rapidly being clogged up by Harry Potter shops. York is planning to introduce a European-style tourist tax that could see visitors pay a nightly extra fee on hotel rooms.
![[They say that since visitors discovered the town it has become filled with Harry Potter shops and tourist tat]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/12/10/93075227-14185331-image-a-1_1734000297711.jpg)
The extra cash could be used by the Labour-run council towards maintaining the city and preserving its historic attractions. No amount has been suggested, but York had nine million visitors last year, including 1.7million who stayed overnight - so even a £1-a-night charge could raise significant funds to help upkeep sites such as the Roman walls and Shambles shopping area.
![[A tourist tax in York could help upkeep popular sites such as the Shambles shopping area]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/12/10/93029555-14185331-A_tourist_tax_in_York_could_help_upkeep_popular_sites_such_as_th-a-3_1734000436164.jpg)
It comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan considers a tourist tax on the capital's hotels - with his team now looking at the evidence from Manchester and Liverpool, which have already brought in similar charges, as well as other cities around Europe. In England, there are no powers held by the central government, local councils or mayors to introduce a tourist tax, unlike in some European cities - but Manchester and Liverpool both introduced one in April last year through a legal workaround.
![[Maintenance of the famous Roman walls in York could also be funded by the tourist tax]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/12/10/93029559-14185331-Maintenance_of_the_famous_Roman_walls_in_York_could_also_be_fund-a-4_1734000438655.jpg)
The city councils brought in tourism-based Business Improvement Districts (BID) to collect additional business rates payments from firms operating in specified areas. York could copy this model in an attempt to help pay for maintenance of its historic sites and public spaces amid concerns from council leaders about a lack of funding.
![[The ancient city - famous for its cobbled streets - has become one of the UK’s most popular visitor destinations]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/12/10/93075229-14185331-image-a-6_1734000505311.jpg)
