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”.