North Wales Councils Halt Visitor Levy Rollout Plans
Conwy and Anglesey reject tourism taxes while Gwynedd delays its decision following heavy pushback from hospitality operators and visitors.
The short answer
Conwy and Anglesey have rejected plans to introduce a local visitor levy, while Gwynedd has delayed its decision following extensive consultation pushback. Accommodation operators welcomed the pauses amid rising operating costs.
“This is simply the wrong time to introduce another cost for either businesses or visitors. We welcome councils listening to the evidence and urge others to do the same before taking decisions that could have long-term consequences for Wales’ visitor economy.”
The short version
- Conwy councillors deferred the visitor tax after 62.1 per cent of consultation respondents opposed it.
- Anglesey scrapped rollout plans following 70.8 per cent overall opposition, including 83.1 per cent of businesses.
- Cardiff remains the only Welsh authority currently planning to launch the levy on 1 April 2027.
Conwy, Anglesey, and Gwynedd have halted plans to introduce a visitor levy on overnight stays, delivering relief to local accommodation operators [1]. Conwy councillors voted to defer the tax, Anglesey decided against proceeding, and Gwynedd postponed its timeline to evaluate public consultation feedback that showed widespread opposition across North Wales [1].
What did Conwy and Anglesey decide regarding the visitor levy?
Conwy councillors voted 29 to nine to defer introducing the visitor levy pending further evidence [1]. ShortTermRentalz reported that Conwy conducted a public consultation drawing 1,210 responses, where 62.1 per cent of participants opposed or tended to oppose the measure, against 33.8 per cent who supported it [1].
Anglesey also decided not to proceed with the levy at this stage [1]. Local consultation data revealed that 70.8 per cent of respondents opposed or tended to oppose the tourism tax, compared to 25.1 per cent in favor [1]. As ShortTermRentalz documented, pushback on Anglesey reached 83.1 per cent among commercial enterprises and 84.2 per cent among visitors, while 57.8 per cent of local residents opposed the charge [1].
Why did Gwynedd postpone its final levy vote?
Gwynedd chose to pause its decision to allow officials more time to assess the 6,856 responses submitted during its consultation period [1]. An initial analysis showed that overall opposition across all respondent groups stood at 68.5 per cent [1].
Hospitality businesses and travelers in Gwynedd expressed even sharper pushback against the proposed charge [1]. According to ShortTermRentalz, 79.5 per cent of responding businesses and 79.9 per cent of responding visitors voiced opposition to adding a levy on overnight accommodations in the county [1].
| Council Area | Council Decision | Overall Opposition | Overall Support | Business Opposition | Visitor Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conwy | Deferred pending evidence (29-9 vote) | 62.1% | 33.8% | Not reported | Not reported |
| Anglesey | Halted at this stage | 70.8% | 25.1% | 83.1% | 84.2% |
| Gwynedd | Postponed to review 6,856 replies | 68.5% | Not reported | 79.5% | 79.9% |
How does the underlying Welsh visitor levy legislation work?
The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 gives individual local authorities the statutory option to charge a tax on overnight stays within their boundaries [1]. Councils can only enact the policy following consultations with local communities and commercial lodging operators [1].
The law requires that all tax revenue collected through the scheme must be reinvested locally to support tourism infrastructure and services [1]. Despite the powers provided under the national framework, Welsh Government records show Cardiff is currently the only council set to charge the levy, with an implementation date of 1 April 2027 [1].
How did accommodation industry trade groups respond?
The Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK Cymru welcomed the decisions, stating the pauses provide needed certainty for lodging providers coping with rising operating costs [1]. The trade body argued that adding local accommodation charges threatens commercial viability across Welsh holiday destinations [1].
PASC UK Cymru spokesperson Nicky Williamson highlighted that lodging operators face mounting cost pressures and urged other local authorities to heed consultation feedback before passing rules that affect the visitor economy [1]. For now, lodging managers across North Wales will not have to prepare billing systems or front-desk workflows for local nightly tax collection [1].
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]North Wales Councils Halt Visitor Levy Plans— shorttermrentalz.com
Frequently asked
+Which councils in North Wales have halted the visitor levy?
Conwy councillors voted 29 to nine to defer introducing the tax, Anglesey decided not to proceed at this stage, and Gwynedd postponed its decision to review consultation feedback.
+Which Welsh council is scheduled to implement the visitor levy?
Cardiff is currently the only council listed by the Welsh Government as scheduled to introduce the levy, with an expected start date of 1 April 2027.
+What legislation grants Welsh councils the power to tax overnight stays?
The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 gives Welsh local authorities the legal power to establish an overnight accommodation levy after consulting local residents and businesses.
+How must visitor levy revenues be used under Welsh law?
Under the 2025 Welsh legislation, all proceeds raised from the visitor levy must be reinvested locally to support tourism.
+How strong was business opposition to the levy in Anglesey and Gwynedd?
Consultation results showed 83.1 per cent of responding businesses opposed the levy in Anglesey, while 79.5 per cent of businesses opposed it in Gwynedd.
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