South Ayrshire Council has launched a pre-consultation survey to gather feedback from businesses and residents regarding the potential introduction of a visitor levy in the area. The survey, which is open until May 9, 2025, aims to understand local views on the proposed levy and its potential impact. The ASSC is encouraging businesses that would be directly affected by the levy to take part in the survey.
Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said:
“We would strongly encourage all affected local businesses to engage with South Ayrshire Council’s survey on a local tourist tax and make their voices heard.
The ASSC does not believe that now is the right time for the Council to proceed with a full public consultation on a draft scheme. Rather than jumping on the bandwagon for the sake of it, it must take stock and pause its plans. Edinburgh is acting as a guinea pig for this new tax and it makes sense to monitor developments in the capital before rushing into any decision which could cause more harm than good to local businesses.
Indeed, many of the same businesses who will be responsible for administering this tax are still grappling with the impact of onerous short-term let licensing and planning regulations which are putting jobs and livelihoods at risk. According to BiGGAR Economics, short-term lets provide a £33m annual boost to South Ayrshire alone, supporting over 1,000 local jobs.
The Council needs to be open and honest about who will be paying this tax and what any revenue can be spent on. This is not an ‘international’ visitor levy paid only by foreign tourists with exemptions for residents, but one applicable to ordinary Scots staying overnight in the area, those who have already made a financial contribution to local services.
The power to introduce a levy is discretionary and not compulsory. While we understand why South Ayrshire Council might wish to make use of the regulatory powers, the financial context is one which gives rise to suspicions that the monies collected will merely be used as a revenue raiser. The statutory direction in the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act is clear: the funds raised should not be used for local council general spend.
If South Ayrshire Council are adamant that they wish to do this, this must do it right. It means having good governance and thoughtful implementation at its heart, and monies raised for tourist infrastructure only. Failure to take these steps could result in a policy that erodes the very industry it is supposedly intended to support.”