The Overnight Visitor Levy Bill, which allows mayors to introduce tourist taxes, was announced as part of the King’s Speech this week. If the bill is passed this year, tourists in England could be charged a levy on overnight stays – similar to rules in Scotland and Wales, where responsibilities are devolved to local authorities. It’s something you might have spotted in Paris, Barcelona or Amsterdam : an extra fee, added to your nightly accommodation bill. They are typically very small – in France, the amount starts at 50p per night. The levies are typically collected by hotels or rental properties on behalf of a local authority, and are usually reinvested into the city’s resources. Before any tourist tax comes into place in England, Edinburgh will become the first UK city to charge visitors for staying overnight under official law in July 2026. Following on from Scotland, Wales will also start doing the same by 2027.…