Important Media Update: Short-Term Let Regulations & Tourism News – September 2023
As the final deadline for STL legislation approaches, Scotland’s Short-Term Let community remains in the spotlight, with extensive coverage across notable media outlets including BBC Radio and TV.
The ASSC stands unquestionably for regulation, but not at the cost of fairness and reason. We’ve championed proportional and well-justified regulation since 2016. Sadly, the current framework falls short, with policies across Scotland now deemed unlawful. Our fight for better continues.
In our unwavering commitment to adapt to the changing landscape, we recognise the importance of shedding light on the diverse perspectives and challenges faced by short-term let businesses and operators.
We have prepared a list of the most recent coverage below.
Stay up-to-date on the latest developments by engaging with us on our dynamic social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Join the conversation today.
5th September 2023
- Insider, Short-term let campaigners stage Holyrood protest over licensing scheme
- Scottish Business News, Small business owners gather outside Holyrood to voice STL licensing concerns
- Herald, SNP accused of ‘demonising’ short-term let owners over regulation
- STV News, Short-term lets licence scheme may destroy business, says property owner
- Scotsman, Short-term lets Scotland: Campaigners accuse Government of ‘demonising’ operators as protest staged at Holyrood
- Evening News, Edinburgh short-term lets: Owners protest outside Scottish Parliament, calling for pause on licensing scheme
- Edinburgh Live, ‘I run short term lets in Edinburgh – everything I own depends on an end to this crackdown’
- East Lothian Courier, Gullane: Holiday let host’s plea to keep business
- Louise Dickins was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme which can be accessed here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001q6x7
- PforGovt: Alex Massie’s sketch in The Times of Humza Yousaf’s statement contained the following:
“The first minister vowed that his government “will continue to support Scotland’s thriving tourism sector”, not least by drastically reducing the supply and availability of short-term letting accommodation.”
Likewise, the Spectator’s Lucy Dunn opined: “Those who own holiday homes will be less excited to hear the government will allow councils to apply a premium on council tax rates for second houses. And those in the business of renting these out throughout the year may become positively enraged where Yousaf has pledged to ‘support Scotland’s thriving tourism sector’ while refusing to back down on short-term let licences.”
Visitor Levy
- West Lothian Council, Visitor Levy backed for West Lothian
- Press & Journal, Tourist tax: What’s raised on Skye should stay on Skye, say island businesses
Tourism
- Herald, Scottish Tourism: Highland Cows helping to boost visitor numbers
- Alloa Advertiser, Businesses urged to apply for VisitScotland Connect 2024
3rd September 2023
- National, Tourism champion claims short-term let restrictions are ‘sexist’
- National, Short-term lets scheme explained and false claims debunked
- National, Third of MSPs calling for short term lets delay lobbied by AirBnb
- National, Review: Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton’s AirBnB
- Edinburgh Live, Luxury Edinburgh Airbnb with underfloor heating and copper bath tub set to be refused
- Scotsman, Closed for businessThe tourist industry accounts for seven per cent of Scottish employment and the SNP’s policy on short-term lets is likely to end the availability of places for the tourists to stay when they are here, so forget those jobs. Out of 32,000 short-term let providers, only 2,587 had signed up by late March and of 12,000 such lets in Edinburgh, there had been 90 applications. In Glasgow the figure was only 78!Perhaps the SNP should erect a sign at the border saying “Scotland is closed for business. Go away”. In Gaelic, naturally!
- Visitor Levy: Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, YOUR VIEWS: Visitor tax would be another big blow for tourism
- Tourism: Herald, Cairngorms National Park designation was tourist ‘magnet’
2nd September 2023
- Scottish Daily Mail
- Herald, One-tenth of tourism operators sign up for new licence
- Herald, Airbnb-style lets crackdown architect backs law delay power
- Scotsman, Short-term lets Scotland: Two-thirds of tourist accommodation businesses could shut over scheme, poll says
- Edinburgh Reporter, Council confirms its position on STLs
- North Edinburgh News, Short-term lets licensing scheme explained
- Oban Times, Western Isles and Highland top short-term let applications
- Herald
- Scottish Farmer, Tourist numbers welcomed but legislation threatens numbers
1st September 2023
- Insider, ‘Two thirds’ of short-term let firms could shut due to licensing
- City of Edinburgh Council, Council underlines commitment to short term lets legislation
- Scottish Business News, ASSC slam ‘risible’ Scottish Government short term let licensing statistics
- Tourism: Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and Bute’s reputation as a top visitor destination continues to grow
- Tourism: Grampian Online, Scottish Agritourism conference looks to the future with support for young delegates
