Chamber News
Tourist Tax Gets Go Ahead
29 May 2024 • Sarah Medcraf
“We have seen ill thought-out legislation like the Short Term Let legislation coming through recently and we need to ensure that this will not happen again. The devil is in the detail, and we need to see how this works practically. The tourism industry is still recovering and needs to be supported and nurtured. Our local tourism industry must be able to engage on how the money is spent here in Moray Speyside.
The passing of the Visitor Levy Bill by the Scottish Parliament will come as a great disappointment to many in the business community. Coming at a time when hospitality and tourism businesses are already under severe pressure, it will cost jobs and mean additional costs for visitors.
“These costs will have a cascading effect, as room charges will need to increase for firms to cover the new tax. This will mean Scotland costs more in an incredibly competitive marketplace for visitors. It could also see many businesses go over the VAT threshold resulting in further costs.
“The Scottish Government and local councils must now ensure local business have the platform to determine how the additional tax revenue is spent in their local area, contributing directly towards boosting the visitor economy.”