Dumfries and Galloway Council has confirmed that it will take forward early engagement on the introduction of a tourist tax, also known as a visitor levy. The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has responded, highlighting the need for caution and meaningful consultation with local businesses.
Background on the plans can be accessed here: https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/news/2025/dumfries-galloway-council-explore-visitor-levy-proposals
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, commented:
“The ASSC recognises the importance of sustainable tourism in Dumfries and Galloway but we implore the Council to proceed with caution. Dumfries and Galloway’s visitor economy is built upon small operators who are already navigating a challenging regulatory environment and rising costs. The imposition of a tourist tax risks placing additional burdens on responsible, homegrown businesses that are vital to the region’s economic and cultural fabric.
This decision is far too important to get wrong. Self-catering catering alone delivers a £32m annual boost to the local economy and supports over 1,000 jobs according to a recent analysis by BiGGAR Economics. While some areas, such as Edinburgh, have pressed ahead at pace – risking reputational harm and undermining competitiveness – others, like South Ayrshire and the Western Isles, are rightly opting to delay implementation to allow for a more considered approach. We therefore urge Dumfries and Galloway to tread carefully, listening to the voice of business who will ultimately be responsible for administering this scheme. If taken forward, it needs to be right from the very outset and they must be open about who will be charged – it won’t just be foreign visitors but ordinary Scots staying in the area.
The ASSC continues to call for meaningful and ongoing engagement with industry, to ensure that any proposed levy is workable in practice, sensitive to rural realities, and does not undermine the very sector it seeks to support.”