Many constituents have contacted me around concerns on a proposed tourist tax.
The Visitor Levy consultation is currently being carried out by Highland Council. This consultation will run until March 2025, and looks at the scope for introducing an accommodation tax on visitors.
This process is devolved to the Highland Council and as an MSP, I have no locus in local authority matters. If you have not done so already, I would recommend responding to the consultation, which is available here:
Visitor Levy | Visitor Levy Consultation Document
This consultation process follows from powers granted through the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act that gives local authorities discretionary powers to introduce a visitor levy in their area, for visitors staying in overnight accommodation.
For years, the SNP’s underfunding of local authorities has seen key services like waste management, roads, and libraries are stripped to the bone across the Highland area. Resources are stretched across the board.
Scottish Labour supported the Visitor Levy Bill and supports granting local authorities more agency. However, any proposals for a tourist tax must be practical and equitable for the businesses and organisations that will be affected. There is significant concern in the proposed structure of taxing revenue on businesses which is different to normal taxation practice.
I and Scottish Labour colleagues will continue to raise this issue and scrutinise proposals put forward.