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21/01/2025

ASSC Join Forces with the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Tourism Leaders to Challenge Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy Timeline

Urgent Concerns on the Operational Viability of City of Edinburgh Council’s Proposed Visitor Levy Scheme

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has joined forces with members of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) council to express serious concerns about the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme being introduced by the City of Edinburgh Council. In a jointly signed letter addressed to the City of Edinburgh Council and key government officials, including Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes MSP, Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee MSP, and Minister for Business Richard Lochhead MSP, industry leaders warn of operational chaos if the scheme is implemented as planned.

The proposed Visitor Levy, set to come into effect in May this year, only 15 weeks from now, has sparked alarm within the tourism sector. The letter highlights the “unfeasibly tight” timeline and raises doubts about the practicality of the proposed implementation approach, arguing it could undermine both the policy’s intent and effectiveness.

The letter urges the Scottish Government to reconsider key aspects of the scheme’s rollout. It provides detailed recommendations to mitigate the risks and ensure the policy achieves its intended goals without creating unnecessary disruption for businesses and visitors.

The concerns voiced by the ASSC and STA reflect fears of widespread “operational chaos” and significant challenges for tourism operators. Industry representatives argue that insufficient time and resources have been allocated to ensure a smooth transition, particularly for small businesses that form the backbone of Scotland’s tourism sector.

The full letter, outlining the industry’s concerns and recommendations, can be accessed here. Recent coverage of the issue by The Herald provides additional context and can be read here.

This latest intervention underscores the urgent need for collaboration between government and the tourism sector to ensure the Visitor Levy achieves its objectives without jeopardising Scotland’s vital tourism industry.

 

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