A PETITION has been launched to introduce tourist tax across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole.

Bournemouth resident Maris Lake has launched a change.org page campaigning to tax tourists after seeing beaches across the conurbation left ‘trashed’ during peak season.

Maris wants to tax anyone entering the BCP area who is not local, nor has any family connections to the area, in a system in place throughout the summer and within a set distance from the seafront.

Maris said: “We know how our beaches end up after the weekend - I think all the locals are aware of it.

“When something is free, people abuse it. If people had to pay, it could shift their mentality.

Discussion over tourism tax is not something that has been newly brought to the table.

Councillor Vikki Slade said: “We did think about it a few years ago, and if we could work towards it, and there was a concern that it might make the Bournemouth and Poole area less attractive compared to its competitors.

“If it could be properly managed, I think it is something worth considering.

“It’s really hard to expect the local taxpayer to use lots of its resource on things that are primarily to deal with visitor behaviour.”

Maris added: "Tourist tax is implemented in a lot of countries in Europe, and it just brings extra funding to the local councils pot.

“There’s no proof that it actually damages the tourism, if anything it improves it because you have extra funds to do things.”

Read more: What should be done to tackle litter on Bournemouth beach?

But there are still many opposed to the idea of taxing visitors.

Cllr Beverley Dunlop said: “Keeping our beaches in tip-top condition is an investment at no cost to local taxpayers. All our leisure, culture, events and festivals, are paid for by seafront income, which also generates millions of pounds back into the support of other services.

“’Taxing’ visitors would be an extraordinary move for a UK destination, highly impractical, invasive and would actively deter visitors, putting all the benefits they bring to our area at risk.

“Visitors and local people all have a part to play in respecting our seafront. We welcome everyone who appreciates the beauty and vibrancy of the BCP area. We encourage those visitors to stay in our hotels and enjoy our seafront and towns anytime.”

The petition can be found here.