Fringe frequenters and Auld Reekie enthusiasts, we’ve got some unfortunate news – staying in Edinburgh might soon get a little more spenny. Following fellow holiday hotspots like Paris, Venice and Barcelona, the Scottish capital is one step closer to launching a tourist tax.
The levy has been a long time coming. Proposals were first put forward in 2019 and moves towards introducing it were first made back in 2022. This month local councillors backed plans to launch a consultation.
The current plan proposes a 5 percent charge per night of accommodation cost, capped at seven consecutive nights. A 12-week consultation period will take place this autumn asking residents whether that charge should be higher or lower.
It’s hoped that the tax will raise up to £50 million a year to be reinvested back into the city and help local business and communities.
Cammy Day, leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said the tax will ‘significantly increase our ability to invest in the visitor experience and the tourism pressures we face, from keeping the city clean to responding to our housing emergency, so that everyone can continue to enjoy all that the city has to offer.’
Some are concerned that the extra cost could discourage visitors and harm Edinburgh’s reputation as a holiday destination. A final decision on the whole thing will be made in January 2025 and if all goes to plan it will be fully implemented by July 2026.
All about tourist tax
Like it or not, tourist taxes are pretty widespread now – just see the full list of places you have to pay extra to visit this year. In the UK, it’s already being trialled in Manchester and Cambridge, and Weston-super-Mare could be next.
Did you see that more than 45 museums in Scotland could close in the next year?
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