• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Wednesday November 4 2026

Bristol and Bath set to turn tourist pounds into local investment

Bristol and Bath’s visitor economy could receive a new funding stream after the government introduced legislation allowing metro mayors to charge a small levy on overnight stays – with the money required to stay in the West of England.

The Visitor Levy Bill, introduced in the Commons today (November 4), would give local leaders the power to apply a percentage charge to accommodation costs rather than a flat fee. That means guests in cheaper rooms would pay less, while revenue raised would be reinvested locally in transport, public spaces, cultural events, destination promotion and security.

For the West of England, the potential is substantial. Mayor Helen Godwin said tens of millions of visitors spend billions of pounds in the region each year, drawn by attractions including the Roman Baths, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier and Bristol Zoo Project.

“The overnight visitor levy will allow us to invest more money raised here right back into the West, like other places already do around the world,” Godwin said. “That could well mean transport and tourism improvements, helping communities to see and feel a difference from devolution.”

The legislation is designed to let mayors direct visitor spending towards the assets that sustain the visitor economy: better high streets, parks and public toilets, cultural programming, safety measures and marketing. The government says every pound raised must remain in the local area.

For Bath, that could mean investment in managing pressure on its historic centre, improving visitor facilities and supporting the cultural events that extend stays beyond a day trip. For Bristol, it could help fund transport links, public-realm improvements and promotion around major events. Godwin also pointed to the forthcoming Aviva Arena as part of the region’s expanding visitor offer.

The policy still depends on local decisions. Ten mayors have committed that any levy would be no higher than five per cent a cap intended to give hotels, guesthouses and short-let operators certainty while preserving flexibility over whether to introduce the charge at all.

The government argues that a percentage-based levy protects lower-cost family breaks, and that businesses will have a say in how schemes are designed.

But hospitality operators in Bristol and Bath will want reassurance that the charge does not make overnight stays materially less competitive, particularly against nearby destinations that choose not to introduce one.