A “tourist tax” on hotels starting next 12 months can be implemented in Edinburgh, Scotland — a primary in the UK.
In late January, The City of Edinburgh Council decided to maneuver forward with a 5% per night fee on overnight accommodations inside the city. The tax goes into effect on July 24, 2026.
The brand new tax is “is a 5% payment on the fee of the paid, overnight accommodation. The levy can be charged before VAT and is not going to be charged on extras like parking, meals, drinks or transport,” said the web site for the City of Edinburgh Council.
This fee is not going to only apply to hotels, said the web site.
It can even be levied on “self-catering apartments, aparthotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels, student [rentals] – only when [rented] to visitors and non-Edinburgh students, vehicles or boats (vessels), which mostly stay in a single place, holiday/short term [rentals], and caravan/camp sites,” said the town’s website.
The tax can be capped after the primary five consecutive nights, said the town’s website.
While it’s known as a “tourist tax,” anyone who’s paying for accommodation in Edinburgh, for any reason, can have to pay.
“Anyone who’s staying in paid, overnight accommodation in Edinburgh need[s] to pay the levy,” said the council’s website.
“This includes tourists, people staying for work or visiting the town for other reasons. This includes U.K. and Scottish residents.”
The City of Edinburgh Council believes that the brand new tax will raise about £50 million (about $63 million in U.S. dollars) a 12 months.
Councillor Jane Meagher, leader of the town’s council, called the brand new tax a “historic moment for Edinburgh.”
She continued, “Introducing this ground-breaking visitor levy means realizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a position tens of thousands and thousands of kilos towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such an awesome place to go to – and live in — all 12 months round.”
Meagher praised the tax and said it has a “huge amount of backing, not least from local residents.”
Not everyone, nonetheless, is happy in regards to the changes.
Leon Thompson, UKHospitality Scotland executive director, voiced his disapproval of the brand new tax, saying it can make the town less competitive as a tourist destination.
“Our fundamental concern has all the time been that this levy will only serve to make visitors’ trips to Edinburgh dearer, ultimately reducing their spending in the broader visitor economy and deterring future visits,” he said in an announcement.
“It’s now the job of the council to make use of these funds correctly to enhance the capital’s attractiveness as a visitor destination and mitigate the impact of the levy on businesses.”
A “tourist tax” on hotels starting next 12 months can be implemented in Edinburgh, Scotland — a primary in the UK.
In late January, The City of Edinburgh Council decided to maneuver forward with a 5% per night fee on overnight accommodations inside the city. The tax goes into effect on July 24, 2026.
The brand new tax is “is a 5% payment on the fee of the paid, overnight accommodation. The levy can be charged before VAT and is not going to be charged on extras like parking, meals, drinks or transport,” said the web site for the City of Edinburgh Council.
This fee is not going to only apply to hotels, said the web site.
It can even be levied on “self-catering apartments, aparthotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels, student [rentals] – only when [rented] to visitors and non-Edinburgh students, vehicles or boats (vessels), which mostly stay in a single place, holiday/short term [rentals], and caravan/camp sites,” said the town’s website.
The tax can be capped after the primary five consecutive nights, said the town’s website.
While it’s known as a “tourist tax,” anyone who’s paying for accommodation in Edinburgh, for any reason, can have to pay.
“Anyone who’s staying in paid, overnight accommodation in Edinburgh need[s] to pay the levy,” said the council’s website.
“This includes tourists, people staying for work or visiting the town for other reasons. This includes U.K. and Scottish residents.”
The City of Edinburgh Council believes that the brand new tax will raise about £50 million (about $63 million in U.S. dollars) a 12 months.
Councillor Jane Meagher, leader of the town’s council, called the brand new tax a “historic moment for Edinburgh.”
She continued, “Introducing this ground-breaking visitor levy means realizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a position tens of thousands and thousands of kilos towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such an awesome place to go to – and live in — all 12 months round.”
Meagher praised the tax and said it has a “huge amount of backing, not least from local residents.”
Not everyone, nonetheless, is happy in regards to the changes.
Leon Thompson, UKHospitality Scotland executive director, voiced his disapproval of the brand new tax, saying it can make the town less competitive as a tourist destination.
“Our fundamental concern has all the time been that this levy will only serve to make visitors’ trips to Edinburgh dearer, ultimately reducing their spending in the broader visitor economy and deterring future visits,” he said in an announcement.
“It’s now the job of the council to make use of these funds correctly to enhance the capital’s attractiveness as a visitor destination and mitigate the impact of the levy on businesses.”
