The City of Edinburgh Council is thinking about introducing a visitor levy. They are currently carrying out a consultation to hear your views on the draft scheme.
Building on extensive engagement which has taken place over many years, views are encouraged on various aspects of Edinburgh’s latest draft scheme, including:
- The planned levy rate of 5% on overnight stays for a maximum of seven nights
- The types of accommodation that will be liable for the levy
- How the money raised should be used to improve the city
- Exemptions to the levy
Information from the consultation page:
What is a visitor levy?
A visitor levy is a payment based on the cost of most types of paid, overnight accommodation. Most people paying to stay for an overnight visit to Edinburgh will have to pay the levy.
In most cases, accommodation providers will collect the levy directly from visitors. They will pay the levy and report the collected sums to the Council every 3 months. This report will help to make sure accommodation providers pay the right amount.
What’s next?
The results of this consultation will be discussed by councillors in early 2025 and will help decide whether the proposed scheme is changed, accepted or rejected. If the councillors decide to adopt the scheme, the levy will be charged on overnight stays to Edinburgh from 24 July 2026 (or around this date, subject to Council approval).
This survey should take around 20 minutes to complete.
You can complete the consultation online here until Sunday 15 December 2024.
Speaking of the proposed Visitor Levy Council Leader Cammy Day said:
With the potential to raise tens of millions of pounds a year once it’s established, a visitor levy for Edinburgh presents a huge opportunity for us to invest sustainably in maintaining and developing the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round.
This is a once in a lifetime chance for our city to harness its global visitor appeal. Funds raised could go towards supporting vital services such as keeping the city clean and green, preserving some of our incredible heritage sites as well as supporting businesses in the visitor economy industry.
We already know from the huge amount of engagement we’ve previously carried out that the introduction of a levy has overwhelming support here in Edinburgh. All this engagement work has helped us to shape the scheme we have in front of us today and I’m grateful to the thousands of people who have been involved to date.
We’ll be continuing to engage with industry, and stakeholders, in the coming weeks and months. Please make sure you engage with us and take this chance to have your final say.
For further information on a Visitor Levy for Edinburgh, including a report detailing the full draft scheme, please visit the Council’s dedicated webpage.
