B&B boss fears 'uneven playing field' over tourist tax

A Scarborough bed and breakfast owner has said businesses like his will face an 'uneven playing field' if a so-called tourist tax is introduced in North Yorkshire but not in neighbouring East Yorkshire.

James Rusden, who runs Scarborough's Toulson Court B&B, said if the levy was not England-wide, cost-of-living pressures would mean some visitors would instead go where no tourist tax was being charged.

A government spokesperson said: 'We're listening to businesses in Yorkshire and across the country on this so we make sure money raised is invested in local priorities. '

Businesses in Scarborough's North Bay could be some of those affected by a visitor levy, with owners citing time constraints as one reason for not being able to afford it.

A record season at Scarborough's Open Air Theatre had kept some North Bay B&Bs in business this year, Rusden said. He also questioned how and where the money would be invested, saying that Scarborough needed more public toilets.

York and North Yorkshire's elected Labour mayor David Skaith has expressed support for a visitor levy 'could be a total game-changer for us'.

{"title": "B&B boss fears 'uneven playing field' over tourist tax", "body": "A Scarborough bed and breakfast owner has said businesses like his will face an 'uneven playing field' if a so-called tourist tax is introduced in North Yorkshire but not in neighbouring East Yorkshire.", "date": "February", "author": "James Rusden, who runs Scarborough's Toulson Court B&B", "source": "Government spokesperson", "url": "https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-teleVISION-59651111", "keywords": ["tourist tax", "North Yorkshire", "Scarborough", "B&B owner", "uneven playing field"]