Touring has long been one of the most affordable ways to holiday in the UK, so any new charge on overnight stays matters to caravan and motorhome owners. Pitchup.com is now calling on local leaders to exempt tent and touring pitches from the planned overnight visitor levy, warning that families on a budget could feel it most.
What the levy could mean for pitch fees
The levy gives local leaders the power to charge for overnight stays, with the aim of raising money for local investment. In England, it has no national cap. In Wales, from as early as April 2027, Pitchup.com says four adults on a £10 pitch would pay a £3 levy on top of the £1.67 VAT already in the price. That would see 36 per cent of the nightly spend go on tax.
The wider picture
Pitchup.com says domestic overnight trips in July and August fell 20 per cent between 2022 and 2025, before any levy has been charged. It also points out that the temporary VAT cut on family days out has lapsed, leaving UK accommodation at 20 per cent VAT against ten per cent in Spain, France and Italy.
Many touring sites are small rural businesses and the company says collecting a new local tax worth less than 50p on many bookings would be a heavy burden.
A call to use the exemption
Pitchup.com says the government’s framework already allows authorities to exempt pitches. Founder of the site Dan Yates said: “Camping and touring holidays are the most affordable form of domestic tourism and a vital source of income for rural and coastal economies. Taxing them risks pricing families out of the UK holidays they can still just about afford, while damaging the local businesses these schemes are meant to support.”
Whether local leaders take up the exemption is one to watch for anyone planning touring trips from 2027.
Image credit: Unsplash
