THE boss of West Somerset’s largest employer has hit out at Government plans to introduce a ‘holiday tax’ on visitors.

The measure was included in the King’s Speech at the State opening of Parliament, when the Government sets out the legislation it intends to pass in the forthcoming session.

Butlin’s Minehead holiday resort director Craig Goodwin said: “It is disappointing the Government is pressing ahead with the holiday tax despite how clear businesses, consumers, and the hospitality sector have been about the potential consequences.

“In the spring, the Government said families being able to pay for a holiday should never be too much to ask, yet they have confirmed the introduction of a measure that will hurt working families hard.

“We know how important domestic tourism is for Minehead and the local businesses here.

“Holidays and short breaks support jobs and investment across our community throughout the year.”

Butlin’s has recently been reported as looking to cut 250 jobs across its three resorts in Minehead, Bognor Regis, and Skegness.

It employs more than 1,200 staff in Minehead during the peak season and has been holding a statutory redundancy consultation with employees, some of whom have worked there for nearly 20 years.

The job cuts were said to be a response to earlier Government measures which have seen the firm’s business rates rise this year by 270 per cent from £1.4 million to £5.2 million, in addition to increases in employer National Insurance contributions and the National Minimum Wage.

Mr Goodwin said: “Recent polling by UK Hospitality showed 73 per cent of people would reduce or cut back on holidays in England if extra costs were introduced, while 78 per cent said they were concerned about the impact reduced tourism could have on their local economy.

“For communities like ours, those concerns are very real.”