July 08, 2026 - 178 views
Residents, businesses and visitors have just over a week, until Friday 17 July, to have their say on plans that could see a visitor levy introduced across Conwy County.
Conwy County Borough Council launched a public consultation earlier this year on whether a charge should be introduced for people staying overnight in visitor accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses, holiday lets and other tourism businesses.
The consultation follows new powers introduced by the Welsh Government allowing local authorities to decide whether to introduce a visitor levy in their own areas.
The council says the feedback received will help councillors make an informed decision on whether Conwy should adopt the scheme.
Sharon Doleman, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy and Communications, said there had already been significant interest in the issue.
She said: “We know there’s considerable interest in the Visitor Levy in Conwy, which is why we’ve engaged an independent company to carry out this consultation to gauge local opinion.
“The responses we receive will help councillors make an informed democratic decision on this important matter.”
The consultation is expected to attract particular interest in some of Conwy’s key tourism areas, including Llandudno, Conwy town and Betws-y-Coed, where the visitor economy supports thousands of jobs and a wide range of local businesses.
Supporters of a visitor levy argue that a small charge could help fund improvements to public spaces, infrastructure, tourism facilities and services used by visitors and residents.
However, some within the hospitality sector have raised concerns about the potential impact on businesses and the cost of visiting the area, particularly during a challenging period for tourism.
The consultation responses will be reviewed before councillors consider whether a visitor levy should be introduced in Conwy County.
The Welsh Government legislation, approved by the Senedd in 2025, gives councils the option to introduce a levy but does not make it compulsory. Councils must complete a formal consultation process before making a decision.
Residents, businesses and visitors can complete the consultation online through Conwy County Borough Council’s website. Paper copies are also available from tourist information centres, libraries and council offices, including locations in Conwy, Llandudno, Llandudno Junction and Colwyn Bay.
The deadline for responses is 5pm on Friday 17 July 2026.
