Second Scottish city in talks to introduce a tourist tax
Second Scottish city in talks to introduce a tourist tax
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Edinburgh recently voted to introduce a tourist tax for overnight stays. Glasgow is set to decide on whether to approve a formal consultation on a visitor levy, days after Edinburgh’s city council has voted to introduce a tourist tax on overnight stays.
The city council in Glasgow will discuss the issue on Thursday, 30 January, yet some trade bodies have warned councillors they feel the tax could harm the city’s attractiveness as a place to visit. The levy would apply to all hotels, hostels, guest houses, bed & breakfasts and self-catering accommodation.
If the formal consultation is approved and the council chooses to move forward with the plans, there would then be an 18-month implementation period, so the levy would not actually be introduced for a number of years. The council’s initial informal consultation report said that the “clear message from the industry is that this money should not be used by the council to plug budget gaps”, the outlet said.
It added that its main aim is to “grow the value of tourism” in Glasgow, and has held initial consultations with trade organisations. However, some trade bodies are cautious about the scheme. “We are urging any local authorities considering a levy to first consult with businesses and local communities to work out if a levy is the best approach for their area, before moving onto developing a scheme.”.
