RESIDENTS have been urged to seize the chance to have their say on a council initiative to impose a “tourist tax” on visitors to Edinburgh.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s consultation is running until 15 December and serves as the last chance for locals to share their thoughts on the proposed levy.
Proposed as a 5% tax on short term lets, hotels, hostels and other overnight stays in the city, the money gathered from tourists would be reinvested in local services.
According to the council, more than 3,000 residents have already had their say in the consultation, but they are eager to hear from more – particularly the elderly, business owners and young people – before the closing date.
The levy would be the first of its kind in the UK and is estimated to raise around £50m a year with a proposed start date of 24 July 2026.
The levy will be collected by accommodation providers directly from customers and then subsequently collected by the council every three months.
Initial reports from the council suggest most respondents so far are in favour of the levy, with the results set be discussed in early 2024, with amendments made if needed.
The consultation takes the form of a 20-minute survey which can be completed online on the council’s website.
Councils in Scotland were granted the power to introduce visitor levies under new laws in the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.
Cities across the world including Rome, New York, Kyoto and Dubai have already implemented visitor levies with Edinburgh set to be the first in Scotland to follow suit.
Councilor Cammy Day, speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, said: “We already know from the huge amount of engagement we’ve previously carried out that the introduction of a levy has overwhelming support here in Edinburgh.
“This is echoed loud and clear in the fantastic consultation response we’ve had so far.
“I’m grateful to the thousands of people who have been involved to date, who have been quick to tell us what they think of our proposed scheme and where they’d like the money raised from Edinburgh’s levy to be spent.
“With the potential to bring in 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.”
The survey can be completed at: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/visitor-levy/consultation/intro/
