Riding holidays, farm stays and equestrian experiences have become an important part of the rural tourism economy — but proposed changes to how overnight visitors could be charged in England mean businesses offering accommodation may need to start considering what the future could look like.
The UK Government’s proposed overnight visitor levy for England could allow certain local authorities to introduce a charge on overnight stays in visitor accommodation. While the details of how any scheme would operate are still to be finalised, the proposals have raised questions for businesses that combine tourism with equestrian activities.
For horse holiday providers, rural properties offering accommodation, riding schools with guest facilities and farms diversifying into tourism, understanding the potential implications early could help with future planning.
What is an overnight visitor levy?
An overnight visitor levy is a charge applied to people staying overnight in certain types of accommodation. Similar schemes already operate in parts of the UK and internationally, with the intention of generating additional income to support tourism infrastructure, visitor services and local economies.
Under proposals for England, local authorities would have the option to introduce a levy rather than it being applied nationally. This means the impact could vary significantly depending on where a business is located.
Who could be affected?
The exact scope of any scheme will depend on the final legislation and local decisions, but businesses that could potentially be affected may include:
- Rural holiday cottages with equestrian facilities
- Farm accommodation offering riding experiences
- Riding holiday providers
- Trekking centres offering overnight stays
- Guest accommodation for visitors bringing their own horses
- Equestrian centres with residential facilities
- Rural properties offering horse-and-rider packages
For businesses where accommodation is part of a wider equestrian experience, the question will be how overnight stays are classified and whether they fall within the scope of a local scheme.
What could this mean for horse holiday providers?
Many equestrian tourism businesses operate on a small scale, often as owner-managed enterprises alongside farming or other rural activities.
For these businesses, any additional charge could create several considerations.
Pricing and customer expectations
Horse holidays are often carefully budgeted experiences. Customers may be travelling significant distances, arranging transport for their own horses or booking specialist riding experiences.
Businesses may need to decide whether a visitor levy would be:
- Absorbed as an additional business cost
- Added to the customer price
- Included transparently within holiday packages
For businesses already managing rising costs across feed, staffing, insurance, utilities and maintenance, absorbing additional expenses may not always be possible.
Administration and compliance
A levy could also create additional administrative responsibilities, such as:
- Registering with a local authority scheme
- Recording overnight stays
- Collecting charges
- Updating booking systems
- Providing information to customers
For larger accommodation providers this may be relatively straightforward, but for small rural businesses offering a handful of holiday lets or occasional riding breaks, additional administration could represent a significant burden.
The importance of rural tourism
Equestrian tourism contributes significantly to rural communities. Visitors attending horse holidays often spend money beyond the accommodation itself, supporting local pubs, cafés, shops, attractions and services.
A visitor levy could potentially provide benefits if funds are invested into improving the visitor experience, including:
- Rural infrastructure
- Tourism facilities
- Access improvements
- Local attractions and services
However, businesses will want reassurance that schemes recognise the realities of operating in rural areas, particularly for seasonal and specialist tourism providers.
Could horse holidays become less competitive?
One concern for some businesses is whether additional charges could influence customer decisions.
Equestrian holidays can already represent a significant investment, particularly where packages include accommodation, instruction, horse hire, meals or specialist experiences.
Even small additional costs may need careful consideration in a competitive market.
Businesses may need to review:
- Their pricing strategy
- Package structures
- How additional charges are communicated
- The overall value offered to customers
What should equestrian businesses do now?
While the final details are not yet confirmed, businesses offering overnight stays could begin preparing by:
Reviewing their accommodation model
Understand whether your business offers accommodation only, or whether it forms part of a wider tourism package.
Following local developments
Because the levy would be introduced locally, businesses should monitor decisions made by their own local authority.
Reviewing booking systems
Consider how your systems could handle any future additional charges.
Building flexibility into pricing
Ensure future pricing decisions take account of changing costs and potential regulatory changes.
Looking ahead
For equestrian tourism businesses, the proposed visitor levy is another example of the changing landscape of running a rural enterprise.
Horse holidays, riding experiences and farm-based accommodation provide valuable opportunities for diversification, but businesses must continue to adapt to new financial and regulatory pressures.
At this stage, there are more questions than answers. However, staying informed and understanding the potential impact will allow equestrian businesses to make better decisions when further details become available.
For businesses built around sharing the countryside, horses and rural experiences, ensuring that future tourism policies support — rather than unintentionally hinder — small operators will be an important part of the conversation.