Edinburgh plans to introduce a 5% visitor levy, expected to generate £50 million annually for the city starting summer 2026
Edinburgh: So, the city is gearing up to be the first in Scotland to roll out a visitor levy. This charge could rake in around £50 million a year for the local council. Sounds like a big deal, right?
City Council leader Jane Meagher mentioned that this cash could be the biggest boost for Edinburgh since the millennium. She’s pretty excited about the upcoming meetings where they’ll likely give the green light to this plan.
The proposal is set to be discussed by the Policy and Sustainability Committee on January 17, and then all councillors will vote on it a week later. Fingers crossed it goes through!
Holyrood has already given councils the power to introduce such a charge starting May 2024. Edinburgh is looking at a 5% fee for anyone staying in hotels, B&Bs, or even campsites.
This levy will kick in for bookings made after May 1, 2024, for stays starting July 24, 2026. They’re planning to charge for a maximum of five nights per person. Not too shabby!
Meagher believes this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to keep Edinburgh as one of the most beautiful places to visit. With the expected income, they could really enhance the city’s charm.
She’s looking forward to working with other councillors to finalize the details of this new levy. It sounds like it could really help manage tourism better and improve the experience for both visitors and locals.
