Another stealth tax

And how is that any different to any other travel/leisure organisation?

I know two families both going abroad, one who went away  a week ago today and another going away a week on Monday, as they'll be saving a substantial amount compared to this (half term) week. 

 I think any "tourist tax" will quickly become an accomodation tax instead as it will be impossible to economically manage all the exceptions - someone travelling for work might be easy, but they could by accompanied by a non-working partner. What about people travelling for medical treatment, or to visit unwell relatives, or even a funeral?  None of that is being a tourist,  neither is staying at a hotel just down the road when ones home is uninhabitable due to building work, or a fire or flood.

The cost of collection of the tax, and handling exemptions, will fall to the hapless accomodation provider who will be getting nothing for the trouble.

Well they manage abroad. 

But do they manage well abroad? 

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In effect it is an accommodation tax but probably calling it a tourist tax tends to separate out the locals, who won't pay it  and the visitors who will. If the amount of the tax is pitched correctly it shouldn't massively impact on any of the categories that you suggest should not pay it. Afterall they don't get preferential rates at hotels because they are visiting someone in hospital? One also assumes that in certain circumstances longer stays in hotels will be down to an insurance company?

The system in Europe seems to work pretty well at least that was my personal experience of staying on campsite/hotels over the past 30 years. If you want to know more about how it works have a look at this article on  taxe de séjour

David

Yes it is cheaper and therein lies the rub!  Practically everything is more expensive here in the UK, so it is no surpirse that people would complain if there is a tourist tax added on to their holiday costs as well!

The other way to look at this is how does the Club feel about it being forced to become unpaid tax collector for the Scottish government. Any costs incurred by the club to collect the tax and pay it to the Scottish government will have to be paid by the club. Is that right and fair?

Also the Welsh government are also looking at tourist tax.

And that expense will be passed on to the members using those sites, so they will be hit with a double wammy!

Having just come back home from 10 days in Cornwall, it was interesting to view on the local BBC news the Mayor of St Ives making the case for just a tourist levy. There are, I believe, other areas of England considering the same. Interestingly when the Welsh Senedd put forward the need for a tourist levy, they were accused by London centric press as anti English. We happily accept just these levies in Europe. Double standards?