The Scottish Greens are calling for all other Scottish councils to follow Edinburgh’s lead in introducing a Visitor Levy in their area.
They also suggest that other councils consider introducing the tax on paid for overnight accommodation to help fund vital local services such as schools, libraries and housing.
Edinburgh is the first council in the UK to introduce the levy which goes live on Friday (although all bookings made since October last year for the period after today already have the levy applied).
The scheme will raise much-needed funds from visitors staying in the capital. The Scottish Greens say other councils should now look closely at whether a similar approach could work in their own areas.
Visitor levies are used in many tourist destinations around the world, including Paris, Barcelona and New York.
The Greens say they were behind getting the power to apply a levy during previous Scottish Government budget negotiations. Edinburgh’s Green councillors had also led calls for the introduction of the tax in the capital since 2011.
Edinburgh Greens councillor Ben Parker said: “I’m delighted the visitor levy has finally been introduced in the capital and will start raising much-needed funds to invest in housing and public services across the city.
“The idea of a ‘tourist tax’ was first suggested by Green councillor Steve Burgess way back in 2011 and was met by howls of outraged opposition from hoteliers at the time.
“In reality, this is a very modest addition to what visitors are already paying to stay in Edinburgh, but it will raise vital funds to invest in public services in the capital. This is a milestone to be welcomed.”
Scottish Green MSP for Edinburgh Central, Lorna Slater, said: “This will be a big boost for Edinburgh and for local services.
“We hope that other councils will be watching closely, learning from Edinburgh’s experience and considering how a visitor levy could work for them too.
“Tourism can bring a lot of money into local economies, but councils and residents often see very little benefit from it. It is right that tourists are able to contribute to the services they are using, and that local people feel the benefit.”
