Ministers consider charging tourists to access UK national museum collections

Government says proposed levy for international tourists is part of initiative to improve arts funding

Ministers are considering charging international tourists to access permanent collections at national museums as part of an initiative to improve arts funding.

The government said there was a need for long-term options to fund the struggling arts sector in its response to a review of Arts Council England, which distributes public funding to the arts. Among the options cited was a hotel levy, a policy being consulted on.