The Long View on Tourism VAT – A personal perspective from Eric Marsh, George Hotel

I joined the hospitality industry soon after my 17th birthday in 1960, except that at that time it was known as the catering trade, and although I enrolled on a university course I attended a technical college; I started three days late with a mere three “O” levels, and three years later was awarded a…..Read more

Reduction would help extra investment in jobs and wages says Web Adventure Park

Janice Dunphy, owner of the Web Adventure Park, writes about how the business would like use the opportunity of lower Tourism VAT to create new jobs and increase wages: The family owned Web Adventure Park in York has been operating since 2004 and now employs over 65 employees. We have a huge indoor play centre, outdoor park, petting…..Read more

Election 2015 – The Cut Tourism VAT Manifesto Scorecard

 Cut Tourism VAT, a tourism industry campaign group, has ranked party manifestos to create a definitive list of which parties are the most supportive of the industry’s call to have a more competitive rate of VAT – with surprising results. Cut Tourism VAT is a coalition of 43,000 tourist accommodation and attractions businesses calling for…..Read more

Celebrating Benjamin Britten with a Tourism VAT reduction

Ann Ceresa is the owner of Britten House. In this blog she writes about the unique history of her business and how she would invest a VAT reduction to celebrate that history for the benefit of her local community. Britten House is a Grade II listed Victorian townhouse in a prime position on Lowestoft seafront. …..Read more

Government should cut VAT for Tourism urges Select Committee Report

In a report published today Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee highlighted the Government’s failure to give the tourism industry sufficient recognition and support. The report reasserts the positive effect a cut in tourism VAT could have on the industry and calls on the Government to give it full consideration. The Cut Tourism VAT…..Read more

The Tourism VAT Challenge for family businesses – Angela and Richard Cooper

Angela and Richard Cooper of Orford Mill Luxury Holiday Cottages, write to  explain how the UK’s high rate of Tourism VAT is a severe challenge for their business:  We have a Holiday Complex in North Devon comprising of 9 cottages. We cannot afford any staff – my wife and I run it ourselves and for each…..Read more