OFF-peak tourists will not be put off visiting the capital by the introduction of a tourist tax. A whopping 86% of the 323 visitors that took part in a survey said they would still visit Edinburgh if a tax of £1 per room, per night was introduced.

The independent survey, which was carried out by Marketing Edinburgh last month, aimed to see whether tourists visiting Edinburgh out of season were likely to be put off by a potential extra cost.

John Donnelly, chief executive of Marketing Edinburgh, said: “There is a real need to find a solution that enables sustainable investment in Edinburgh’s growing tourism industry while supporting the council to manage the consequences of that success. A tourist tax is a proven way of doing that in other leading destinations.”

If the tax was raised to £2 per room, per night only 80% of the asked tourists would be willing to come and stay in Edinburgh off-peak. It was found that if the tax was set at £4 per room, per night it would have a massive impact on tourism as only 66% of off-peak visitors would come to stay in the capital.

Off-peak and peak time tourists have different views on what the tourist tax should be spent on, with off-peak tourists favouring the tax to be spent on providing more for tourists to see and do or to pay for more festivals and events. Peak-time visitors would rather see the tax spent on improving public areas.

Donnelly said: “our next steps must provide a more in-depth understanding on how such a tax would be operated and spent for those who live, work and do business here.”

City of Edinburgh council leader Adam McVey said: “In reality, a tourist tax is now commonplace in countries across the world and we are very much listening to everyone involved.”