PLANS for an overnight visitor levy or tourist tax, in the West of England have moved a step closer.

Under government plans, mayors will be given powers to introduce and set the levy which will be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs to make it proportionate to the cost of holiday stays.

People and businesses across the West are set to be able to have their say in the coming months before plans are finalised including how proceeds should be spent.

A small levy on short-term accommodation providers, including Airbnb-style apartment stays, is well-established across Europe and the world with money raised often invested into transport and local improvements.

WECA Mayor, Helen Godwin has previously called for the introduction of a short-term lets registration scheme, to ensure a more level playing field.

As a mayoral authority now in the top tier of devolution, the West of England is also set to benefit from future plans for more of the income tax already raised here to stay to be spent locally.

Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, said: “We are used to paying a visitor levy ourselves when we go on holiday to other countries, and now is the time to look at making sure we can invest more in what matters through a small charge on overnight stays here with common-sense exemptions where we need them.

“The West Country has such an exciting future. New-and-improved and upcoming attractions like the Bristol Zoo Project and Aviva Arena can, with continued backing, be joined by more top-quality sites like the Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare and Bath Fashion Museum.

“We know that local people also want to see further improvements to our transport network, particularly our buses.

“More late-night services would help more people enjoy what our region has to offer and enable workers to get home more easily, and so would some more funding for public spaces including in central Bath and Bristol, alongside new support for the sectors that support tourism.

“Things like this become possible sooner if we raise new funding through an overnight visitor levy.

“We should grab the chance to take more control of our future with both hands, because a few quid here and there can add up to some big change.”

Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Cllr Kevin Guy said in a statement: “Tourism and connected industries like hospitality play an important role in our economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs.

“Our region needs and deserves more investment to become even better and the ability to raise revenue through a small charge on overnight stays is something that we’ve long campaigned for.

“We are committed to working closely with businesses across the tourism and hospitality sector to ensure that any future visitor levy is designed in a way that actively supports the industry, helps destinations thrive and delivers benefits for local communities.”

Visit West announced last summer that the visitor economy is now worth a record £2.7 billion annually supporting 43,000 jobs in the region.