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Edinburgh first in Scotland to levy tourist tax
A view of the Edinburgh skyline showing the Balmoral Clock and Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland
THE City of Edinburgh has become the first local authority in Scotland to agree to levy a tourist tax.
At a meeting of the council, held online as Storm Eowyn scythed across Scotland, elected members backed a 5 per cent charge on hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday let stays in the city.
The tax will apply to bookings made after May 1 this year, for stays from July 24 2026 onwards, and is expected to swell council coffers to the tune of £50 million a year.
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While the council can generate much-needed income with this new charge, making the city sustainable and affordable for its all-important workers needs a wider approach that’s not just focused on tourism, writes IAN MacCORQUODALE