Understand
MP Alicia Kearns calls for medical exemptions to proposed tourist tax plans
Overview
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns has urged the government to exempt people staying in overnight accommodation for medical reasons from proposed tourist tax plans. Local leaders are set to receive powers to charge a levy on overnight stays, but Kearns argues that families facing severe medical hardships, such as those traveling for children's hospital treatments, should not face additional financial burdens.
Key points
- Conservative MP Alicia Kearns called for medical exemptions to upcoming tourist tax proposals.
- The proposed tourist tax allows local leaders to charge an uncapped levy on overnight accommodations like hotels and B&Bs.
- Kearns shared her personal experience of staying in hotels while her infant daughter underwent brain surgery.
- She highlighted that families traveling long distances for ongoing medical care face enormous financial costs.
- Labour's regional mayors have pledged to cap the visitor levy at 5% following warnings from hospitality bosses.
- A government spokesperson stated that the new powers are part of a devolution drive to invest funds back into local economies.