THE City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed that Bonaly Scout Centre will be exempt from the visitor levy placed on overnight stays in the city.
The tourist tax was given the green light last month and is expected to be introduced in July next year for any trips booked on or after 1 May 2025.
After plans for the levy were announced, Bonaly Scout Centre raised concerns that young people staying on their campsite would be forced to pay the charge for an overnight stay.
The council have now confirmed, however, that the centre will be exempt due to the rules on properties occupied by a charity.
Bonaly Scout Centre, founded in 1945, is a campsite in the south-west of Edinburgh and is often home to young Scouts taking part in outdoor activities, or youth organisations planning group retreats.
The land was originally part of Lord Cockburn’s estate, which has been celebrated for its natural beauty and untouched landscape and is now considered one of Scotland’s premier outdoor centres.
City councillors formally agreed to introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy Scheme last month, placing a 5% fee on the cost of overnight accommodation, capped at five nights in a row.
This is projected to produce up to £50m every year, and will be invested back into Edinburgh’s tourism industry.
Though councillors backed the tax, Dr Scott Arthur MP expressed unease at the centre’s inclusion in the scheme last year whilst it was in consultation.
He stated in October: “The consultation on the final plan for Edinburgh’s ‘Tourist Tax’ (aka Transient Visitor Levy) is now underway.
“I am a massive fan of the Tourist Tax, and look forward to seeing some of the income being spent in my constituency.
“There is, however, a small unintended consequence with it – Bonaly Scout Centre visitors (e.g. Scouts) may have to pay the charge.
“Camping is not the issue, it is people staying over inside the buildings.
“I had a really constructive meeting this week with the council and the Scout Centre, and we are all agreed that we should find a way to exempt this fantastic facility.
“In the interim, it would be great if people complete the survey supporting the proposals overall, but asking that Bonaly Scout Centre has an exemption.”
Now, the council has been confirmed that the levy, despite applying to “all paid accommodation on caravan sites and campsites”, does not include properties occupied by a charity, trustee of a charity, or properties where accommodation is “wholly or mainly for charitable purposes”.
Bonaly Scout Centre is part of South East Scotland Scouts, which is a registered Scottish charity, meaning it falls under this category.
The chair of Bonaly Scout Centre, Peter Casebow, told C&B News: “We’ve had correspondence from the council confirming that they believe the exemption clauses mean that we will be exempt from the Visitor Levy, which we are delighted about.”
“I’m very grateful to City of Edinburgh Council for taking such a sensible and pragmatic approach to the issue, without which the levy would have applied to Bonaly Scout Centre.
“Scott Arthur MP was also of significant help and support in discussing the issue with the Council.”
