Edinburgh City Council has approved a 5% tourist tax on overnight accommodation, making it the first city in the UK to implement such a charge. The revenue generated will be used to support local facilities and services heavily used by tourists. The tax is expected to raise £45-50 million annually by 2028 or 2029.
have approved a tourist tax for visitors staying overnight the Scottish capital, introducing the first charge of its kind in the United Kingdom.
Ahead of the vote, Jane Meagher, head of City of Edinburgh Council, told councillors that tourism "puts strain on the city's resources," which needs funds to develop "in a planned and sustainable way." Some councillors said ahead of the vote that they wanted the charge to be higher, expressing a desire for revenue generated from the levy to be spent on giving residents affordable housing, with housing said to be currently too costly for many people working in hospitality.While just over half of residents and businesses agreed with a 5 per cent charge, the majority of visitors were against a levy or thought the fee should be lower, according to a local authority notice.
TOURISM TAX EDINBURGH Accommodation Visitors
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