THE government has now confirmed that all Mayoral and Foundation Strategic Authorities will be given the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy, charged as a percentage of accommodation cost rather than a flat nightly fee.

Whether to use that power, however, would be a local decision following consultation.

If Cornwall achieves Foundation Strategic Authority status, it could eventually have that choice. But it would be a power, not a duty.

Right now, I remain extremely cautious and far from convinced that Cornwall needs a visitor levy.

I have raised the issue directly in council with the cabinet portfolio holder responsible and have been assured that, before anything could be introduced in Cornwall, there would be a full public consultation followed by a clear yes-or-no vote of full council.

That provides an important safeguard - and some time to examine the evidence properly.

The visitor economy is enormously important to Cornwall. In my Looe East & Deviock division, it supports not just accommodation businesses, but pubs, restaurants, shops, cleaners, tradespeople, food suppliers and many other local jobs.

There have been signs of improvement this summer after several challenging years, but the wider picture remains fragile. VisitBritain figures show the South West's share of domestic overnight trips falling from 18 per cent in 2022 and 2023 to 17 per cent in 2024 and 15 per cent in 2025.

Local businesses also tell me visitors remain extremely price conscious. One family holiday business shared five years of booking data with me: of 719 guest groups, only three per cent came from outside the UK, while almost a third came from the South West itself. That is a useful reminder that Cornwall's market is very different from international cities often cited as examples of successful visitor levies.

Any assessment must also consider competition. Many European destinations have lower VAT rates on accommodation than the UK's 20 per cent, while visitors driving to Cornwall pass through competing destinations such as Somerset and Devon.

There is also an important administrative burden. Under the government's proposed model, accommodation providers would be responsible for calculating, collecting and paying the levy, submitting self-assessed returns and keeping records. Strategic Authorities would also have to administer, collect and enforce the tax.

For a large hotel chain that may be manageable (if understandably unwelcome). For the many small B&Bs, cottage operators and farm businesses in Cornwall it means additional time, systems and paperwork - while the council administration required would inevitably reduce the net amount available to spend.

Finally, if a levy were ever introduced, a fair share of the proceeds must return to the communities carrying the greatest visitor pressure, and this income must be genuinely additional rather than just replacing existing council or government funding.

Cornwall having greater powers should mean Cornwall having greater choices.

And before choosing to burden our visitors with another tax, we need to be certain it strengthens the local economy rather than undermines it.