Argyll and Bute Council has voted to continue pausing the possible introduction of a Visitor Levy.
At a meeting of Full Council on Thursday 29 January, councillors agreed to further delay any potential plans for a levy while the Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill progresses through Parliament.
Councillors also approved the expansion of the Shadow Visitor Levy Forum (SVLF), adding four additional business representatives. This includes two accommodation providers who participated in the Consultation Report case studies, alongside two organisations representing the travel trade.
An update report on the work of the SVLF will be presented to Full Council in April 2026. Once this work is complete, a further report will return to councillors to support any future decision on whether to introduce a Visitor Levy.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said:
“The ASSC welcomes Argyll and Bute Council’s decision to pause its proposed visitor levy. This move is a sensible and constructive step that creates space for essential national-level changes. If passed by MSPs, this will provide enhanced flexibility through a flat-fee model which is crucial to deliver a fair and workable system.
We would encourage other councils across Scotland to follow Argyll and Bute’s pragmatic example. Change is coming and taking a brief pause now will help ensure that any future levy is designed in a way that truly supports local communities and tourism businesses. The ASSC looks forward to working collaboratively with Ministers, MSPs, local authorities, and industry partners as the amending Visitor Levy Bill progresses through the Scottish Parliament in the weeks ahead.”