Visitors to the Lake District should be required to pay a tax on hotel stays, parking, or even driving into the national park, according to a recommendation from a charity.
A report from Friends of the Lake District claims that tourists create an “invisible burden” on the area’s landscape, environment, and heritage. They suggest that introducing a “levy” could provide much-needed funding to tackle these challenges.
The report, titled Who Pays for the Lake District?, highlights that the 18 million tourists visiting annually can overwhelm the local infrastructure.
Dr Davina Stanford, who authored the study, explored how tourist charges are applied in popular destinations abroad. She suggested several options, including a tax on overnight stays, a levy on vehicles entering the area, or parking charges specifically for visitors.
Another idea proposed is the creation of a tourist business improvement district in parts of the national park. This would involve businesses paying an additional fee to fund public improvements.
Dr Kate Willshaw, a policy officer for Friends of the Lake District, stated: “We know tourism is essential for supporting local economies, but this research shows it also brings costs that aren’t currently covered.
“From this study, we believe we need to consider schemes that could address the impacts of tourism in the Lake District and unlock investments in areas like public transport.”
The report highlighted several issues caused by tourism, including sewage pollution in lakes and rivers, high carbon emissions, traffic congestion, and damage to the landscape from vehicles. It also noted the problem of communities being “hollowed out” due to second homes and holiday lets.
The report suggests that money raised from a tourist tax should be managed by local councils and the Lake District National Park Authority to address these concerns.
Tony Lywood, a former Labour councillor and previous member of the Lake District National Park Authority, shared his support for the idea. “Tourist taxes on hotel rooms don’t put visitors off in cities like Amsterdam or Venice, so why not here?
“My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary in Venice, and we paid a tourist tax, but it was hardly noticeable. It could provide much-needed funds for things like infrastructure, better car parks, and public toilets.”
He added, “Right now, people can visit for the day, having already filled up on petrol and brought food from elsewhere, and contribute nothing to the cost of maintaining the national park.”
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since COVID-19 is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
There is a greater chance of litter because the infinity pool is becoming more and more popular and receives more and more visitors. Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the park, it will help keep the area tidy.
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