TO tourists visiting York, it is somewhere to fall asleep at night. To owners of hotels and B&Bs in the city, it is a big part of how they earn their keep. But to the Government, it could be just another source of taxation.

With most things being taxed to the hilt these days, either upfront or via sneaky indirect taxation, it was only matter of time before someone came up with the idea of putting a levy on beds.

Sir Michael Lyons is looking into taxing overnight stays as part of a review into local government funding.

He is due to report to the Government in December, by which time he will hopefully have dismissed this daft and damaging suggestion.

Leaders of York's hospitality industry are outraged by the proposed tax, which they reason will make a break in York look like a bad bargain when compared with other cities in Europe.

For York no longer has to regard London or Edinburgh as the opposition, but Prague or Barcelona too.

There are an estimated 3,000 guest beds in York. Would-be visitors could easily be put off by such a tax. For businesses struggling to get by at present, it could be the last straw - especially as they already pay council tax and business rates.

As David Clarke, chief executive of Best Western, points out, every one per cent rise in tax could lead to a 1.4 per cent fall in visitor numbers. Such a potential decline in tourists could be disastrous for York, which has already had to endure the visitor-repelling parking charges.

Updated: 09:33 Thursday, May 25, 2006