Cambridge to charge tourist tax and limit short breaks to protect the city?

The long-standing tradition of punting could be 'restricted'. Photo: PA

It is one of our most beautiful and historic cities, attracting over four million tourists a year.

But Cambridge's former mayor, Cllr John Hipkin, suggests that these tourists should be charged a tax to enter certain cultural sites, museums and attractions, because they are becoming damaged and off-limits to locals.

He also called for the long-loved tradition of punting, and punt touts, to be 'rigorously restricted' and for tourism to focus on quality not quantity.

According to the Metro, he said: 'Some will consider these suggested measures to control tourism draconian and so they may be but, without strong policies to stabilise or reduce tourist numbers, the character of the city and its amenities, especially in the peak season, will continue to deteriorate.'

Cambridge University is one of many historic landmarks in the city. Photo: PA

And, he told the Daily Mail: 'We need a new vision of Cambridge as a tourist destination and all those who care for the city must unite to ensure that it is realised.

'The vision is of a high calibre, long-stay heritage and culture city at the hub of connections to nearby sites of historic and natural interest.
'Casual short-stay tourism should be discouraged.'

But hoteliers in the city believe the mix of tourists keeps the local economy buoyant, with one saying: 'I don't think we can turn on one tap and switch off another'.

The city council's tourism chief, Cllr Neil McGovern, said Hipkin's ideas were 'interesting', but that Visit Cambridge already focused on 'value, not volume' tourism.

He added that it 'works hard to maximise the economic impact of our four million visitors each year while also working to reduce any detrimental impact on the city'.