A Welsh caravan park is pressing ahead with plans to become adults only later this year in protest over possibly having to charge a proposed tourism levy on children.
The caravan park at the Dan Yr Ogof Showcaves in the Brecon Beacons currently announces that “children are welcome’ on its website. However, it plans to make the change to an adults-only motorhome site this September, despite the Welsh government insisting that the levy will not apply to anyone under the age of 18.
The Welsh Senedd has voted through legislation to introduce an extra charge on overnight stays. It is up to individual councils to decide if and how it will be implemented.
A Welsh government spokesperson said, “Levies will not apply to anyone under 18 staying at campsites, hotels and other shared accommodation.”
However, Dan Yr Ogof Showcaves chair Ashford Price claimed that the government did not understand its own legislation, and that while there may be an exception for anyone under the age of 18 staying in shared accommodation, groups and families staying in caravans or motorhomes could very well end up having to pay £1.30 plus VAT per person, including babies.
He was particularly concerned at the extra clerical work collecting the tax might impose on the wardens, and at the possibility of customers becoming confrontational if they are asked to pay the tax for their children.
He said, “What happens then? Do you ask them to leave? The whole issue has not been thought through. In theory, this tax comes into being either at Easter 2027 or September, but no one really knows! It is really that much of a shambles. I have to assume the worst, hence my decision to go adults only from 14 September as we are already getting bookings for 2027.”
The Welsh government spokesperson added, “We will work with local authorities to ensure that any visitor levies will put money back into the communities and landscapes that make Wales a world-class tourist destination. World-class destinations like Barcelona, Ibiza and Manchester are already using them to protect and improve the places we love.”
In other Welsh touring news, Eryri National Park could pause the overnight parking restrictions that were introduced only two months ago. The restrictions were added at 11 car parks.
In other campsite news, a Scottish council has announced that seafront overnight parking has been approved in Largs, which would see a council-owned car park become a dedicated overnight space for motorhomes and campervans.
Image: Dan-yr-Ogof at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales
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