Visitor Levy for Edinburgh

Overview

The City of Edinburgh Council is thinking about introducing a visitor levy. We want to hear your views on our draft scheme.

Councils in Scotland have new powers to introduce a visitor levy in their local area. These powers come from new laws in the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.

Cities around the world already have visitor levies. These cities include Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, New York, Kyoto and Dubai. If Edinburgh introduced such a levy, the money raised must be used towards facilities mainly used by or for visitors. This could also help make local facilities and services better. Local culture, events and festivals could also benefit. We could also use the money to manage visitors and promote the city responsibly.

What is a visitor levy?

A visitor levy is a payment based on the cost of most types of paid, overnight accommodation. Most people paying to stay for an overnight visit to Edinburgh will have to pay the levy.

In most cases, accommodation providers will collect the levy directly from visitors. They will pay the levy and report the collected sums to the Council every 3 months. This report will help to make sure accommodation providers pay the right amount. 

What’s next?

The results of this consultation will be discussed by councillors in early 2025 and will help decide whether the proposed scheme is changed, accepted or rejected. If the councillors decide to adopt the scheme, the levy will be charged on overnight stays to Edinburgh from 24 July 2026 (or around this date, subject to Council approval).

This survey should take around 20 minutes to complete.

Need a different language or format?

Please email the Interpretation and Translation Service at its@edinburgh.gov.uk quoting reference 24-1284