Concerns over a 'tourist tax' must be listened to, warn attraction bosses
Members of Devon's Top Attractions have been meeting with the Government - on a roller coaster!
Tourist attractions here say bookings are up this Easter - and they're hopeful it'll pave the way for a good summer.
It's as a Government consultation on whether to introduce a so-called 'tourist tax' has now closed, with results being analysed.
Supporters say it would help to fund local services, especially in places like the West Country where the population size rises because of the influx of visitors
But Sally Everton from Visit Devon worries it could also put visitors off
"I've responded with a three-pronged attack if you like as I did it for business tourism, for lesiure tourism and also international visitors," she said.
"For us, if you've got a family of four coming for a three day holiday and it's a three pound tourism levy that soon mounts up and reduces their potential spend in the local visitor economy.
"Also, where does it stop? If you've got school trips for example and they are bunking up in dormitories is that a 'bed tax' for each dormitory or each bed as that could potentially add on a lot of money for education as well."
Last week Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock visited Crealy Theme Park and resort for a 60-minute roundtable discussion with representatives from Devon’s leading attractions and tourism organisations - where a range of pressing industry issues were discussed.
Key topics included increasing business rates, VAT levels, rising minimum wage costs, changes to National Insurancecontributions and the potential introduction of a tourism levy.
Roger Sell, Chairman of Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) and General Manager of River Dart Country Park, said: "We were extremely grateful to the Minister for taking the time to visit Devon and to listen directly to those of us working at the very heart of the tourism sector.
"It is vital that the realities on the ground are heard, and this was a valuable opportunity to highlight the cumulative impact that increasing taxation and regulatory changes - such as business rates, VAT, National Insurance and wage pressures are having on our industry.
"Her willingness to engage at a grassroots level and to take forward key points gives us encouragement that these challenges are being recognised."