Have Your Say: How much should Edinburgh's tourist tax be?
Using new legislation, Edinburgh Council plans to introduce a ‘visitor levy’ – also known as a tourist tax – of 5 per cent on the cost of overnight stays for up to seven nights. The authority is carrying out a public consultation to ask what capital residents, businesses “and visitors” think about the idea.
Council leader Cammy Day described the levy as a “once-in-a-lifetime chance” for the city to harness its “global visitor appeal”. “With the potential to raise tens of millions of pounds a year once it’s established, a visitor levy for Edinburgh presents a huge opportunity for us to invest sustainably in maintaining and developing the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round,” he said.
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The money could be used, he added, to keep the city “clean and green”, preserve “our incredible heritage sites” and support tourism-related businesses.
The council wants to know, so what do you think? Is it a bad idea that could damage tourism, an important economic sector, and which should be scrapped entirely?
Is 5 per cent too much, should it be 3 per cent instead? Or is that actually too little? Eight per cent, as proposed by the Scottish Greens, could potentially raise a lot more money – but not if it puts people off from going.
According to leading hotelier Rocco Forte: “Scotland is already not a cheap destination, and this can only deter cost-conscious visitors who will increasingly choose to go elsewhere. I expect we will see more foreign visitors choosing to spend two nights instead of three in Edinburgh, and more time at destinations in England where no visitor levy will apply.”
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Hide AdHe also warned the visitors who do come would be likely to spend less money while visiting. “That will hit the entire tourist economy – retailers, taxi drivers, restaurants and cafes, museums, galleries, tourist attractions – anywhere that visitors currently spend money,” he added. “It will also deter guests wanting to leave tips or service charges for staff.”
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