SCOTTISH local authorities are urging the Scottish Government to introduce legislation to enable councils to tax tourists.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) say allowing councils to implement a tourist tax would not be a blow to the industry.
Speaking at the launch of a new document on its plans for a transient visitor tax, Cosla president Alison Evison said it would be a “tax on visitors, not on businesses”.
The paper outlines options for the tax, which would be introduced on a regional basis by councils which feel they need to generate additional funds for public services required to cope with tourism, such as public transport.
Various suggestions for rates are outlined, including flat rates, a percentage of accommodation fees or a progressive tax based on star ratings.
Other options mentioned involve taxing the use of infrastructure, with roads and ferries named as examples.
The paper argues new Scottish Parliament legislation is needed for the tax, claiming licensing and voluntary schemes would not work.
Councillor Evison commented: “We know there are concerns within the tourism and business industries about transient visitor tax and on this I can offer assurances that no local authority would take an action that would be damaging to their area or local economy.”
She said the money received by councils in the last local government settlement was “not the money that we required” but cash raised by tourist tax would be additional, not a replacement.
She added: “We want to be fiscally empowered to raise money locally which can then be spent on delivering local priorities.
“Transient visitor tax represents a key step towards local financial empowerment through local devolution.”
Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey was at the launch. He explained plans for the city to introduce a tourist tax of approximately one or two pounds per night is expected to generate around £11 million in additional revenue.
The Scottish Government has been opposed to a tourist tax but Cosla believes their position is now softening. Cosla spokeswoman Gail McGregor said following conversations with Finance Secretary Derek McKay, “I think he’s a little bit more open-minded than he was before”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here