Hospitality bosses warn that holiday tax plans could result in tens of thousands of job losses: Plans for a tax on people taking holidays in England could result in tens of thousands of job losses, hospitality bosses have warned. Analysis by Oxford Economics, commissioned by UKHospitality, has modelled three different holiday taxes, all of which are expected to have an impact on jobs, tourism spending and a reduction in gross domestic product. They will give mayors in England the power to impose levies on international and domestic visitors staying in hotels, hostels, guesthouses, holiday lets and bed-and-breakfasts. Should a 5% levy be introduced on accommodation, Oxford Economics estimates that 33,000 jobs would be lost by 2030 amid a £1.8bn drop in tourism spending. It predicted that a levy at this level would also reduce tax receipts to the Treasury by £688m. The consultancy predicted that if a £2 levy per person per night were introduced, tourism spending would decline by £846m by the fifth year of the levy, with 16,000 jobs gone. In a less severe scenario, analysis of a £2 levy per room per night would result in 7,000 job losses and an almost £400m decline in tourism spending with the number of overnight stays dropping by more than 2.7 million, reports The Times. “Across the wider economy, the policy is likely to have negative consequences,” Matthew Dass, associate director at Oxford Economics, said, adding that with VAT in England already at 20% “an additional tax would further weaken the country’s competitiveness”. Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, said the levy “would hike costs for Brits, make staycations more expensive and decimate tourism”. A consultation between the government and businesses over the proposals, which considered the level of the levy, ended last month.

 

Korean fried chicken and pad Thai edge out fish and chips and doner kebab in Just Eat top ten takeaway list: New trends such as Korean fried chicken, loaded fries and pad Thai have edged fish and chips and doner kebabs in Just Eat’s list of Britain’s ten favourite takeaway dishes. Korean fried chicken – inspired by Kpop music and Netflix thriller Squid Game – is one of the more exotic dishes to make the list. Staples of yesteryear – such as doner kebabs, chicken korma and fish and chips – have had to make way, its analysis reveals. Just Eat said social media and wellness trends have played a large part in what customers order nowadays. TikTok's influence has sparked a surge in demand for Japanese-inspired matcha products, too, which have seen orders on Just Eat more than double in the past year. Dubai chocolate, another social media favourite, has also been in high demand, with related products rising by 2,684% in the last year. Leigh Phillipson, commercial director at Just Eat, said the site has seen platforms such as TikTok “have a real impact on the popularity of orders, with Korean seeing a boom in the last few years off the back of shows like Squid Game and music by Blackpink”. He added: “Items most Brits in 2006 would be confused by, such as matcha and fibre drinks, are surging aligned to wellness trends. Despite more choice, British favourites like Indian, Chinese and fish and chips are as popular as ever.” Margherita pizza tops the list, followed by chicken chow mein, sweet and sour chicken, Korean fried chicken, chicken tikka masala, pepperoni pizza, loaded fries, pad Thai, smashburger and veggie burger.