A sustainable tourism specialist who was commissioned by Friends of the Lake District to report on the effects of tourism on the area has now been asked to carry out a similar study for National Parks England.
Dr Davina Stanford produced ‘Who pays for the Lake District’ 12 months ago for the Friends who said while tourism brought huge benefits to the area, there were also costs – including where the number of visitors exceeds infrastructure capacity.
A tourist tax was one suggestion made by the campaign group.
Last week new powers were announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for regional mayors.
National Parks England has commissioned a study to understand the role tourism levies could play in supporting protected landscapes.
The organisation says insights will help the National Park Authorities be in a better position to respond to future consultations about potential visitor levy schemes.
“This study will put national parks, which attract over 100 million visits annually, in a strong position to respond to those consultations,” Vanessa Rowlands, chair of National Parks England said.
“The aim will not be to support, oppose or advocate any form of levy but to consider the potential impacts and benefits of charging mechanisms whilst proposing some common guiding principles that all National Parks would recommend if a levy was proposed.
“It may be that individual national park authorities ultimately share different perspectives on the advantages or challenges of visitor levy schemes, but all will hopefully benefit from this study.
“If a levy were to be introduced, national park authorities would not want it to compromise the principle that national parks are there for everyone.
“But equally they would want to ensure that any levies collected have a direct benefit in terms of furthering national park purposes – clearly set out for all 10 of England’s national parks, and invest in the assets on which our visitor economy is built, at a time when central Government funding is shrinking.”
Cumbria’s first mayor will be elected in May 2027.
Reacting to the new powers for mayors, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith called the possibility of a visitor levy in his area ‘a total gamechanger.’
“A small charge on overnight stays could revolutionise how we deliver transport, support businesses, invest in infrastructure and the visitor economy,” he said. “Building the healthy and thriving communities for our residents and everyone that comes to visit them.”
Results of the new study are expected early next year.
