Tourist tax introduced in Edinburgh: How much is it and who pays?
Edinburgh has become the first city in Scotland to introduce a tourist tax. The visitor levy, which comes into effect on Friday, will see those
Edinburgh has become the first city in Scotland to introduce a tourist tax. The visitor levy, which comes into effect on Friday, will see those staying overnight in hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation, charged an additional 5% on top of their original booking cost.
It is hoped the charge, which aims to raise about £50m annually, could be used to fund improvements to the capital, including new housing, cultural initiatives and a wider police presence. However, opponents claim the additional cost could put some potential visitors off.
The Scottish government passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill in May 2024, granting councils power to impose a tourist tax. City of Edinburgh Council voted in favour of introducing the charge in January last year.
It brought the city in line with other popular European destinations including Amsterdam, Paris and Rome in taxing visitors.
The BriefWire