Aberdeen to introduce 7% tourist tax as visitors pay extra for overnight stays
Tourists heading to Aberdeen will soon be paying more for their stay, as the city council has voted to bring in a new tourist tax.
Aberdeen City Council's Finance and Resources Committee approved plans on August 6 to introduce a 7% visitor levy on overnight accommodation – making it one of the first cities in Scotland to press ahead with the controversial charge.
Dubbed a "visitor levy" by officials, the tax would see tourists paying an average of £4.90 per night on top of their hotel bills, based on the city's current average room rate of £70. The move is expected to raise up to £6.8 million a year, with funds going toward boosting Aberdeen's tourism and events offering.
Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of Finance and Resources, said: "The income generated from the visitor levy, paid by those visiting the city, will provide a huge boost to our local economy and allow us to invest in bringing major events and conferences here of a more regular basis.
'Across Europe we are paying similar amounts to stay per night subsidising their thriving economies, and we should do the same to ensure we can compete in terms of attracting both business and leisure tourism to Aberdeen."
The earliest the tourist tax could come into effect is April 1, 2027 , pending further steps and planning.
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Where Will the Money Go?
The council says the cash raised will be used to improve Aberdeen's visitor experience and help attract large-scale events, expos, and cultural festivals.
Proposed projects include:
A new fund managed by the Convention Bureau to bring in big-name conferences and expos
More backing for events at the TECA (The Event Complex Aberdeen)
Support for major festivals, exhibitions, and sporting championships
Funding for local arts, sport, and cultural organisations
Grants to help emerging artists and performers create new work
Steven Gow, chair of Visit Aberdeenshire, backed the move, calling it a 'well-managed scheme' that could unlock major potential for the local economy.
'Aberdeen welcomed 2.2 million overnight visits in 2024, generating over £500 million in tourism spend. There's huge headroom for growth, especially in leisure and conference tourism,' he said.
How Will It Work?
The new levy has been made possible through the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill , which gives councils the power to charge a percentage-based tax on paid overnight accommodation. Aberdeen's rate will be set at 7%, and it will apply across a wide range of options including:
Hotels
B&Bs
Guest houses
Hostels
Self-catering properties
Caravan parks and camping sites
Accommodation aboard permanently docked vessels
Motorhomes and cruise ships are exempt, and people receiving disability-related benefits will also be exempt from the charge.
Councils can choose to vary the rate in different areas or during specific events – for example, increasing the levy during arts festivals or major sporting events.
If approved in time, Aberdeen's levy could become a model for other Scottish cities watching closely as they weigh up whether to follow suit.
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