Damien

As others have said, this is the norm in European countries and a good way for cities to raise direct revenue from visitors.

As long as it's low enough (I think the government should set a limit), it's a small difference for the tourist but raises significant money that can be invested in the city they're visiting. No one is going to avoid London because of a £2-a-night premium on their hotel bill, but it would raise tens of millions for the city to spend on the infrastructure they'll be using.