Edinburgh must be upfront and honest about its tourist tax
Tourists need to know how much their accommodation will cost when they make a booking
The decision to introduce a visitor levy, or “tourist tax”, in Edinburgh from next summer was a controversial one.
Adding a five per cent charge to the cost of the first five nights in hotel rooms, bed-and-breakfasts, Airbnb lets and so forth will raise millions to be spent on the city, but could also discourage some visitors, causing more pain for the already struggling hospitality sector.
However, despite the debate about the pros and cons of this new tax, one thing should be clear: visitors need to know about the charge and the total bill they will be required to pay before they make the decision to book. Indeed, this is a requirement of the regulations.
Yet, as we report today, some listings on major booking sites are not making it clear whether the levy is included in the price or not, raising the prospect of tourists coming to Edinburgh only to discover a nasty surprise.
The visitor levy likely will dampen demand, but any failure to be upfront and honest about the costs would only make things worse.
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