A UK city is planning to introduce a £5 tourist tac on day-trippers heading into the hotspot as ‘overtourism continues to challenge popular UK seaside destinations’
A travel expert has called for day-trippers to face a £5 charge when visiting one of the UK’s most popular coastal towns.
Brighton in East Sussex is well known as a seaside hub and cultural LGBTQ centre, attracting just shy of 10million day-trippers each year. While they may be putting cash in the pockets of chippy owners and Mr Whippy operators, their presence comes at a cost.
Parking in the southern city is notoriously tricky to secure, the beach gets crowded during the summer, and securing a room overnight can be pricey. Caroline Cartellieri, who holds non-executive director roles at Europ Assistance, Saffron Building Society, and the Museum of London Trading Board, has argued that a tax on certain visitors could help tackle these problems.
“As overtourism continues to challenge popular UK seaside destinations like Brighton, innovative solutions are crucial.” She highlighted that while a tourist tax isn’t currently on the table, it could be key in reducing the negative effects of day-trippers and safeguarding the local community,” she said.
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Cartellieri points out that this tourism boom has led to several issues. “House prices have risen by nearly 20 per cent since 2022, the city has over 4,000 holiday rentals, and finding a spot to relax on the beach is nearly impossible,” she explained, before highlighting how residential areas have been transformed by the proliferation of short-term holiday lets, such as Airbnbs. One acquaintance of mine lives on a street where 80 per cent of the properties are Airbnbs,” she said.
The pressure from excessive numbers of visitors has raised concerns about litter, traffic jams, and noise. Cartellieri has highlighted the issue of day-trippers, who she says contribute little to the local economy and often leave litter behind. Despite initiatives like “Take 3 for the Sea”, where locals pick up beach rubbish, the problem persists.
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Cartellieri suggests a tourist tax, similar to one planned in Venice, could be a solution. She proposed: “A £5 (or more) day-tripper tax could be added to parking charges or train fares, or paid via an app.” This, she believes, could help manage overcrowding and encourage visitors to explore beyond the busiest areas.
However, Cartellieri stressed that this is just a suggestion and no official plans have been made. Any such proposal would require extensive consultation and support before being seriously considered. Back in April, Brighton was named as one of the most overcrowded destinations in the UK. Also, in May, Brighton Pier also introduced an admission fee of £1.
Due to the cost of maintaining, repairing and operating the pier, the new admission fee was introduced to try and cover these costs. The charges do not apply to some Brighton residents or children under the age of two. It came into force on May 25.
Anne Ackord, chief executive of Brighton Palace Pier, said at the time: “The admission fee will be an important contributor to ensuring that our iconic pier is with us for generations to come.” Anne revealed that costs to operate the pier had risen by £2.7 million in the last five years, taking the annual cost to £11.6 million.
