It looks likely that the Welsh Government is expecting Airbnb and other short let landlords to collect a visitor tax.

This will be set out in the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill to be introduced to the Senedd – the Welsh parliament – on November 25.

This Bill proposes giving local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy, which is described as being “a small charge paid by people staying overnight in visitor accommodation.”

The levy will raise additional funds for councils.

A statement from the Welsh Government says: “We have received consistent feedback that we need a form of registration in place to support the levy. This has informed our decision to include a national register of all those providing visitor accommodation in Wales within the Bill.”

The Labour-led government in Wales has 

previously consulted on a statutory licensing scheme for visitor accommodation as a means of helping to establish what it calls “a level playing field and to ensure visitors have confidence in the high-standards available throughout Wales.”

The government continues: “We will be bringing forward the second Bill to move us towards a statutory licensing scheme and enable visitor accommodation providers to demonstrate how their accommodation meets certain conditions. 

“We will continue to discuss and engage with tourism stakeholders, accommodation providers and local authorities as we progress these proposals.”