We recommend that you review the supporting information below, along with the documents at the bottom of this page, before submitting your response to the Visitor Levy Consultation questionnaire.
The online questionnaire is available here.
Paper copies are available from:
- Conwy Tourist Information Centre, Muriau Buildings, Rosehill Street Conwy, Conwy LL32 8LD
- Llandudno Tourist Information Service, Venue Cymru, The Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1BB
- Abergele library, Cerrigydrudion library, Colwyn Bay library, Conwy library, Kinmel Bay library, Llandudno library, Llanfairfechan library, Llanrwst library, Penmaenmawr library or Penrhyn Bay library.
- Conwy Business Centre, Junction Way, Llandudno Junction, LL31 9XX
- Coed Pella, Conway Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7AZ
The consultation questionnaire is available in both English and Welsh. If you would like this in another format (such as large print or Easy Read) then please contact us on tourism@conwy.gov.uk or by calling 01492 577577.
Background
Conwy County Borough Council is considering introducing a visitor levy for all eligible holiday accommodation and overnight stays as specified in the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc (Wales) Act 2025 within the local authority area.
The Bill also introduces a national register of visitor accommodation providers across Wales to support policy development and improve transparency. The register will include details such as the type and location of accommodation offered. Registration will be mandatory for all providers, regardless of whether their local authority chooses to implement a visitor levy. The Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) will manage the register, with the registration process scheduled to begin in autumn 2026.
Under the legislation, the earliest date a local authority could have introduced the Visitor Levy is April 2027, provided that all required consultation and preparatory steps were completed. However, the WRA must be given at least 12 months’ notice before a levy can take effect, and businesses must also be given 12 months’ notice. Given these notice requirements, the earliest the levy could be introduced in Conwy is October 2027.
The levy, if implemented, would apply to all visitor accommodation providers, who may choose whether to pass this cost on to their guests.
Levy rate
Where a visitor levy is introduced, the charge is applied per person, per night, based on the type of accommodation. The Levy amount has been set by the Act, and has been determined as:
- £0.75 (£0.90 inclusive of VAT) per person per night for stays at campsites (pitches for tents) or shared accommodation (hostels, bunkhouses, bothies, or dormitories), with individuals under the age of 18 exempt.
- £1.30 (£1.56 inclusive of VAT) per person per night for all other types of visitor accommodation, applicable to all age groups to include:
- hotels, bed and breakfasts, and guesthouses, self-catering lets, such as cottages and homestays (like Airbnb)
- pitches for caravans, motorhomes, or campervans
- temporary accommodation (such as glamping pods for festivals).
Where visitor accommodation providers are VAT registered, VAT will apply on the total cost charged to visitors, including any levy passed on to the visitor.
Certain exemptions apply, and refund requests are also available in certain circumstances. Please read supporting documentation below for further information.
Economic impact
An economic impact assessment has been carried out to assess the impacts of a visitor levy in Conwy. The assessment has been developed in line with Welsh Government guidance and utilises modelling approaches consistent with those employed in national level impact assessments. The analysis draws upon data from the International Passenger Survey and the Great Britain Tourism Survey covering the period 2022–2024, with STEAM data also incorporated into the overall assessment.
It should be noted that the availability and reliability of relevant data—both nationally and within Conwy—are limited, and the assessments presented in the EIA are therefore intentionally conservative, reflecting worst-case assumptions.
The estimated revenue that a visitor levy could generate is between £1.9m and £2.1m per year in Conwy County. The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) etc (Wales) Act 2025 stipulates that any funds raised must be used for:
- Managing the effects of visitor activity.
- Maintaining and promoting use of the Welsh language.
- Promoting and supporting the sustainable economic growth of tourism and other kinds of travel.
- Providing, maintaining and improving infrastructure, facilities and services for use by visitors (whether they are also for use by local people).
The full Economic Impact Assessment is available below, along with additional supporting documentation.
- Conwy Visitor Levy Economic Impact Assessment
- Equality Impact Assessment Visitor Levy Proposal for Conwy County Council
- Assessment of the Potential Environmental Impacts of a Visitor Levy
- Report presented to Full Council on 14th May 2026 to propose a consultation on the visitor levy in Conwy County
Supporting documents
A full list of Q&As is available on our website. There are dedicated sections for businesses and visitors / residents. Other supporting information is listed below.