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Mar 20, 2006
Proposals to raise UK
hotel and accommodation prices by 10% via a new local government tax have been
rejected by British holidaymakers, according to a survey commissioned by
Travelodge. The survey seeks to examine the impact of government plans to tax
British consumers on the £6.5 billion a year they spend on UK hotels,
B&B's, caravan's, mobile homes and cottages, resulting in potential
increases of up to £100 to the cost of an average family's UK break.
The study reveals that 89% of
UK holidaymakers consider an
additional taxation on their UK
holidays as unfair. The survey also shows that price rises would force
holidaymakers to cut short their UK holidays, eat out less or visit
less tourist attractions.
A survey of 2,000 respondents
reveals:
- 64.5% of consumers said a new tax would put them
off going away on holiday in the UK
- 85% of consumers believe the cost of UK
hotels is already too high
- 88% of consumers believe they pay too much tax
- 67% would re-consider the length of their stay
- 79% would cut back on spending while away
- 80% would reconsider staying overnight at a stag
and hen party event
- The average UK break costs £204
- Domestic tourists spend on average £254 each
while on a week's UK
break
Travelodge's CEO, Grant Hearn
said, "British holidaymakers already believe that they are paying too much
for their holidays and this tax is going to hit their pockets even harder. Many
families wait all year for their summer holiday and now this tax could force them
to cut short their break or cancel their holiday completely."
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