A UK art director has argued British cities should implement a ‘hotel tax’ for tourists to help keep galleries and museums open for free. The charge for overseas visitors staying at British hotels would help support local culture. Art-lovers pay tourist taxes in major cities including Rome and New York before purchasing expensive tickets to visit museums. Enforcing something similar in Britain would help struggling local museums affected by funding cuts.
“A hotel tax which supports cultural infrastructure and maintaining free entry is something I’d be very much in favour of,” said Victoria and Albert Museum director, Tristram Hunt.
“We are not thinking of charging for the national collection. It’s in the public ownership and we think that is incredibly important, that nobody should pay to access their birthright. I’m sure central government support will diminish, but we are awfully good at finding alternative sources of support and I do feel that will be our priority,” said director of Tate Modern, Frances Morris.
