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The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Aberdeen to introduce 7 per cent 'tourist tax' on visitors
The so-called tourist tax was approved on Wednesday after months of public consultation and will be applied to bills for overnight stays at accommodation in the city. The levy will not be implemented until at least April 2027, and the proposed charge will be the highest in Scotland, as both Edinburgh and Glasgow approved a 5% tax on tourists. The council said the new charge could generate up to £6.8 million a year as the finance and resources committee heard that, with the average hotel room costing about £70 in the city, the levy would cost visitors an extra £4.90. READ MORE: Scottish Government announces £10 million in funding for community toilet facilities The rate applies to all overnight accommodation in Aberdeen, including hotels, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs, and self-catering lets, but does not include cruise ships and motor homes. The tax will also not be imposed on visitors or people receiving disability benefits, payments, or allowances. Funds raised from the levy would help pay for infrastructure used by tourists such as upgrades to the Winter Gardens and replacement Christmas lights, the local authority said. The council's finance convener Alex McLellan 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 on 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.' Steven Gow, chair of Visit Aberdeenshire, added that the scheme will drive the continued growth of Aberdeen's visitor economy. 'Aberdeen welcomed 2.2 million overnight visits in 2024, contributing to an economic impact from tourism of over £500m. The headroom for growth in the leisure and conference sectors will be fulfilled through effective investment in promotion, events, and development of the tourism sector.'
STV News
4 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Aberdeen approves most expensive tourist tax in UK
Aberdeen has approved the UK's most expensive tourist tax among the highest rates in Europe. The city council approved a 7% tax on visits on Thursday after months of public consultation. In February 2024, councillors agreed to press ahead with plans to introduce the levy and launch a public consultation on the scheme, giving residents and local businesses the chance to have their say. Now that the tax has been approved, a report to the committee has said it could be introduced on April 1, 2027. The Aberdeen Council hopes the visitor levy will generate up to £7.5m per year by adding around £5 on top of the cost of an average hotel room in the city per night. The rate applies to all overnight accommodation in the city, including hotels, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs, and self-catering lets. Cruise ships and motor homes are not subject to the levy. The tax will also not be imposed on visitors or people receiving disability benefits, payments, or allowances. Aberdeen City Council says that an average room costs £70 a night, so visitors will pay an extra £4.90. Edinburgh – Scotland's most visited city – and Glasgow will both add a 5% charge to overnight accommodation costs. The capital's visit levy comes into force on July 24, 2026. Glasgow's is due to start on January 25, 2027. Liverpool has a £2 fee per room per night, while Manchester charges £1. Paris' tourist tax is charged per person per night and varies depending on the star rating of the hotel – with a rate of 8.45 Euros when staying at a four-star hotel. In Rome, tourists are charged between three and seven Euros per person, per night. Amsterdam has the highest tax in Europe, charging 12.5% on overnight stays. The extra cash earned could be spent on improvements across the city, such as upgrades to the Winter Gardens and replacement Christmas lights. Councillors say that the additional income could help bring events like the World Rally Championship and Tall Ships Races back to Aberdeen. Convener of finance and resources councillor Alex McLellan 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.' Steven Gow, chair of Visit Aberdeenshire, added that the scheme will drive the continued growth of Aberdeen's visitor economy. 'Aberdeen welcomed 2.2 million overnight visits in 2024, contributing to an economic impact from tourism of over £500m. The headroom for growth in the leisure and conference sectors will be fulfilled through effective investment in promotion, events, and development of the tourism sector.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Aberdeen to introduce 7% tourist tax as visitors pay extra for overnight stays
The move is expected to raise up to £6.8 million a year, with funds going toward boosting Aberdeen's tourism and events offering. 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 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.
