Nottingham considers a £2 nightly tourist tax starting January 2026. Critics argue it lacks benefits for visitors and deters tourism.
Nottingham charges £2 per room, while some places in Europe charge per person. The UK can’t have a tourist tax directly, so they plan to use an Accommodation BID to do it indirectly.
The city council would get the money first, then give it to the BID later. The BID would invest in Nottingham’s economy and currently funds safety projects for nights out.
One person, Mia Jones, doesn’t like the idea, saying Nottingham isn’t great for tourists and that the tax will make things worse. She thinks few reasons exist to visit Nottingham and that the tax will deter visitors, believing tourism won’t raise much money.
Another person thinks the tax is unfair and said it must improve visitors’ experiences. They believe visitors need a benefit, like free attractions.
Ben Walter from Nottingham likes the tax and says £2 per night is a small amount. He believes it will add up with many visitors, and that Nottingham needs more tourist attractions to bring more people.
The tax applies to places over £35,000 in value. While it’s unclear if Airbnb places would be included, this plan could generate £1.7 million yearly.
Alex Flint supports the Accommodation BID. He says it will help hotels work together strategically, attract events to Nottingham, and strengthen the economy.