The tourist tax is back on Highland Council’s agenda with a major committee set to debate whether to put the proposals of the scheme to a public consultation.
Formally known as the Visitor Levy it would see the Highlands follow large numbers of other destinations across Europe buckling under mass tourism by charging additional tax per night.
In principle, that money would then be used to financially support services used by visitors and invest in crumbling roads across the region – noticeably impacted by the NC500.
Some in the hospitality sector are against the move claiming it will put people off coming to the Highlands which would negatively affect local businesses that rely on high numbers of tourists.
But the evidence from visitor levies elsewhere in Europe indicates that tourists are not deterred – three of the highest charges are in Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice and none have witnessed a decline in numbers.
One area of concern is that the tourist tax could apply to locals who pay council tax as much as to visitors who do not and that potentially could price Highlanders themselves from weekends away in the Highlands.
Now the economy and infrastructure committee will consider a report on a potential Visitor Levy for Highland with a report setting-out a proposed outline of how the scheme would operate.
If approved by members it would then move to a public statutory consultation with the visitor levy considered a “priority action” within the council’s programme ‘Our Future Highland 2022-2027’.
Given the success of hiking council tax on second homes and consideration being given to raising council tax by 15 per cent in the next three years it would be hard sell for the council not to proceed in some form or another with the levy.
If it does not go ahead many voters would be left footing the bill while visitors to the area contribute nothing to the upkeep of the Highlands and in some cases cost the local authority additional sums for cleaning up after them.
The economy and infrastructure chairman, Ken Gowans, said: “Tourism is one of our most important sectors and the levy could form an essential part of how we sustain, support and develop the services and infrastructure which the sector relies on.
“We have been engaging with stakeholders and I would like to thank all the individuals and businesses who have taken part to date for their input and help to get us to this stage.
“If approved, the intention is for the 12-week public consultation period to commence on 15 November 2024 and close on 7 February 2025.”
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