Scottish Ballet says tourist tax has forced cancellation of shows in 'unsustainable' Edinburgh

Scottish Ballet said that while this year’s show ‘Cinders!’ will run from December 11 until December 24 at the Festival Theatre, plans for other performances between Christmas and New Year have been cancelled as a result of the new so-called ‘tourist tax’.

From Friday, July 24, those travelling to Edinburgh and staying in paid, overnight accommodation will be charged an extra 5 per cent per night on the first five nights of their stay in the city.

City of Edinburgh Council previously said that the Edinburgh Visitor Levy will be used to help sustain public services, programmes and infrastructure within the city.

However, Scottish Ballet has urged the council to introduce an exemption or tax relief for Scotland’s national performing companies to help support the performing arts sector.

It comes after the Glasgow-based company said the cost of accommodation in Edinburgh increased by 72 per cent from December 2019 until December 2025, with Scottish Ballet footing an annual bill of more £200,000 to accommodate its artists in the Scottish capital.

Steven Roth, executive director of Scottish Ballet, said: “The economics of touring to Edinburgh are fast becoming unsustainable.

“We will keep finding ways to make it work because we believe in this city.

“But a visitor economy that becomes too expensive for both the artists who animate it and the audiences who come to see them risks undermining the very thing that makes Edinburgh worth visiting.”

While the levy collected is partly intended to help fund cultural activities in the city, Scottish Ballet fears that it may hinder performers and companies in the first instance when coming to Edinburgh, especially for shorter four or five-day tours that may bear the full cost of the tax.

Christopher Hampson, chief executive and artistic director of Scottish Ballet, said: “Edinburgh is known around the world as a city where the arts are alive in a way that is genuinely rare.

“That reputation was built by the companies and performers who have committed to this city year after year. We remain committed to Edinburgh, but that commitment needs to be a two way street.”

Scottish Ballet’s calls for a consideration of a tax relief or exemption has been shared by other companies in the sector.

The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) has said that it is “broadly supportive” of Scottish Ballet’s call, adding that the exemption could go further.

A spokesperson for NTS said: “While the scale of NTS touring to Edinburgh is smaller than the Ballet, the company will also be impacted by this visitor levy and are also unlikely to benefit from the proposed investment routes generated.

“NTS would also advocate that the same exemption is considered for all Scotland-based performing artists and theatre companies who are touring to Edinburgh.

“These artists and organisations are fulfilling a specific remit; enhancing the cultural life of its residents as well as providing an exciting tourist offer to its visitors.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) added: “Amid the challenges of the current funding landscape and the external pressures facing the RSNO, and our fellow National Performing Companies, we welcome any constructive dialogue that supports us financially at this time.”

In response, council leader Jane Meagher said the five night cap on the Visitor Levy means there is a limit on how much performers and those staying for long periods of time will have to fork out.

She said: “The introduction of our Visitor Levy is such an important moment for the city.

“It will raise tens of millions of pounds a year for us to reinvest in everything that makes Edinburgh so special – benefitting everyone who lives in, works in and visits the city. It will help us to strengthen the services and public spaces we all depend on, while better managing the effects of tourism and major events.

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“Cities and destinations across the world have managed similar schemes for many years and there’s no evidence to suggest that they have impacted the number of visitors they welcome each year. The 5% rate is modest in comparison to other cities and the five-night cap we’ve placed on the levy, limits the amounts that artists and others staying for longer periods will have to pay.

She added: “I don’t disagree that hotel prices in Edinburgh have risen exponentially in recent years but the responsibility for that lies with the hoteliers, not the council. Our focus is on reinvesting the proceeds of the levy in areas that maintain and enhance our reputation as one of the most popular and enjoyable destinations in the world.

“It’s also worth pointing out that our cultural sector stands to benefit from the levy too, with plenty of funding options available for cultural organisations.”