Another major European hotspot has revealed plans for a tourist tax

Posted by author August 27, 2024 Travel

Another major European city has revealed plans to impose a new tourist tax, bringing it in line with the likes of Amsterdam, Berlin, and New York.

Edinburgh will now be the first city in Scotland to charge a transient visitor levy (TVL) on visits.

The charge, similar to those currently imposed other popular tourist destinations, would be taken at self-catering accommodation, hotels, B&Bs, and services like Airbnb.

Edinburgh will now be the first city in Scotland to charge the fee. (Getty)

Draft proposals were put forward this week, and the town council’s policy and sustainability committee voted in favour, with revenues to be put towards improvements to the capital.

It will still take some time for the tax to come into effect, with residents given an opportunity to weigh in on whether the 5 per cent fee present in the proposal should be increased or decreased.

The extra tax is expected to be implemented in time for the 2026 festival season.

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Council leader Cammy Day said the fee would have a “huge benefit” for the city.

“The evidence that we’ve done and research from across the world shows a levy has no impact on tourism,” he told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland.

“People don’t come here to see the insides of hotel rooms, people come here to see the world heritage centre, the castle, the palace, the hills, the sea around the city, the amazing capital that we are.”

Best Hotel Room Service: EOS by Skycity, SA — The fee would be charged at hotels, b&b and the like. (Supplied)

Edinburgh had already implemented new rules for Airbnb-style properties in an effort to slow down the growth of short-term rental accommodations. Hosts can face fines of up to £2500 ($4800).

It comes after new tourism rules also came into effect this month for anyone visiting the Italian city of Venice. After already introducing a tourist tax for day trippers, the city has now also imposed new measures banning tour groups with over 25 people.

Elsewhere around the globe efforts are continually taken to combat overtourism.

A Japanese town erected a wall to block views of Mt Fuji, but it has since been quietly taken down, also Amsterdam jacked up its hotel tax rate, and a Spanish neighbourhood had a bus route taken off Google Maps.