Latest news with #VisitAberdeenshire
The National
3 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
3 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
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey takes over Findlater Castle for filming
Findlater Castle ruins near the village of Cullen. | Rphfoto / Adobe Stock With crews setting up and an all-star cast still to arrive, Findlater Castle in Moray will be closed to the public until July 25 to film The Odyssey. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Film crews for Christopher Nolan's upcoming blockbuster have been spotted filming in the north-east of Scotland. The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, and more, appears to be filming at Findlater Castle in Moray. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Located along the Banffshire coastline, the area has been closed off to the public with crews spotted constructing fake buildings in recent days. According to VisitAberdeenshire, Findlater Castle will be inaccessible from May 27 until July 25, due to 'a private commercial activity'. The closure also includes the Barnyards of Findlater car park, with alternative coastal routes provided by Aberdeenshire Council. Path diversions have been put in place along the Findlater Castle and Cullen to Sandend coastal paths, with the route from Logie Head to Sandend to be closed on Friday, June 27 for 24 hours. Filming in Moray for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey expected to begin later this month Set for release next year, Nolan's epic film will follow the journey of the ancient Greek king of Ithaca as he returns home following the Trojan War. It is the acclaimed director's first film since the release of Oppenheimer in 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The shoot is expected to involve a number of cast and crew, with some filming to take place at sea with rumours suggesting replicas of ancient Greek vessels will be involved. As well as Findlater Castle, locations used by production include Buckie, Cullen and Portsoy which could also appear in the film which is thought to be the most expensive of Nolan's career. Sitting on a cliff with a 50-foot drop, Findlater Castle overlooks the Moray Firth making it a picturesque location to shoot a film. | Adobe Stock No cast or crew have been seen in Scotland so far, though crews appear to be preparing for filming to begin later in the month. Confirmed cast members for The Odyssey also include Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal, as well as Robert Pattinson who spent time in Glasgow while filming The Batman (2022). Other actors also involved in the project include Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton and Mia Goth, who recently spent time shooting Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein in Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Filming for the movie – which is currently slated for release on July 17, 2026 in the US – began in Morocco back in February. Other locations include Greece and Italy, as well as Los Angeles, with further filming expected across the UK and Ireland, in addition to Scotland.
The National
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Filming begins for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at Findlater Castle in Moray
On Monday, the film crew were spotted constructing a fake building for Nolam's newest movie, The Odyssey, which will star his star his long-term friend Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya. The film follows the journey of the ancient Greek king of Ithaca back home to his wife following the Trojan War. READ MORE: Freedom Flotilla speaks out as Israel 'illegally seizes' Madleen and imprisons MEP Tom Holland and Charlize Theron are also linked to the movie, which is Nolan's most expensive of his career, according to reports.. (Image: Peter Jolly) The villages of Buckie and Cullen, where Findlater Castle is found, will also feature. Filming for the movie – which is due to be released in cinemas on July 16 next year – started in February in Morocco. It has also taken place in Greece and Sicily. (Image: Peter Jolly) Visit Aberdeenshire has also warned visitors to avoid Findlater Castle, writing on their website: 'Please note that Findlater Castle is inaccessible between May 27 and July 25 as a result of a private commercial activity ongoing in the immediate vicinity of the site during this time. 'This also includes the closure of the Barnyards of Findlater car park during this period, which is regularly used for visiting the castle.' A hotel in Cullen has also shared they had been booked for accommodation for between 50 and 60 film staff.
