Mayor Steve Rotheram Backs Visitor Levy Plans Projected to Raise £18m Annually

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has warmly welcomed new legislative progress in Parliament that brings the region closer to introducing a modest overnight visitor levy. Under the Visitor Levy Bill recently introduced in the House of Commons, regional mayors will gain devolved fiscal powers to apply a small percentage charge on commercial hotel and short-stay accommodation bookings. Rotheram, who has publicly pledged that any local charge would be capped at no more than five percent, estimates that the measure could generate up to £18 million every year. Crucially, all revenue raised would remain directly within the Liverpool City Region to fund essential high-street improvements, major cultural festivals, public parks, international destination marketing, and enhanced visitor infrastructure. To protect budget-conscious travellers and visiting families, the charge will be calculated as a fair percentage of the room rate rather than a flat fee, while student accommodation and residential care facilities will be entirely exempt. With the regional visitor economy currently valued at more than £6.8 billion and supporting over 55,000 local jobs, city leaders argue that the levy will ensure sustainable reinvestment into the cultural assets that attract millions of tourists annually.