Edinburgh Tourist Tax

Looks like the law south of the border could prevent this except on a voluntary basis.

I have read on another forum, Cruise holidays, that a tourist tax is to be introduced in Amsterdam. Immediately two very large cruise lines have fired off a broadside and pulled out of visiting there. 

Food for thought. The tourist tax might frighten off the tourists 

Cornwall had the tax for years, it is called car parking fee's.👍

And worth every penny, my ansum!

You have to learn to live and think like a local to enjoy some places and not be a burden. Some folks nowadays have the money to travel, but take all their idiocy and bad manners away with them...........drink too much, sit in the hot sun too long, let children wander away unwatched  on beaches, don’t respect the beauty and uniqueness of a place and trash it with litter and dog fouling. The list is endless. And adds to cash squeezed local authorities.

But I don’t trust any form of council, local, regional or national to use the funds raised by a tax wisely and for the good of all. It doesn’t happen with most taxes, why will this be any different?

But I don’t trust any form of council, local, regional or national to use the funds raised by a tax wisely and for the good of all. It doesn’t happen with most taxes, why will this be any different?

That would depend on the framing of any legislation to implement such a scheme. It seems that many local authorities are struggling to maintain many local services. The point being that when local services suffer so does the experience of a visitor. That might be as simple as providing a public toilet! Personally I would suggest a much lower amount per night, perhaps in the region of 50p per person. Whilst that seems quite low it all adds up and could make a substantial difference to local finances. 

David

some interesting statistics, I've found on http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20247/edinburgh_by_numbers/1012/edinburgh_by_numbers   

Number of Nights; domestic 6.99 million, overeas 8.64 million, making a total of 15.63 million

which 41% stayed in a hotel/B&B, and only 4% caravan/camping (it did not mention MHs but I assume they was included)

Now from https://www.visitscotland.org/research-insights/regions/edinburgh-lothians

Hotels were 50% full in January and 91% full in August with an average of 74% occupancy. Caravan& camping sites had an average of 35%, with peak of 74%

At £2 a head at 16.63 million nights of which only would be got from the 41% in a hotel and even if that is only per room so halved and taking the occupancy rate into account,  that is an awful lot of money generated.

I agree with what you are saying about struggling LAs, but that’s my point. It’s the methods used in terms of making sure that funds raised go to where they are needed, and that the maximum raised is used wisely, rather than gobbled up by administrative and tendering processes, something that all levels of our governance excel at doing.

The amount of money wasted was bad when I worked in LA, it’s a thousand times worse now, with little or no accountability. If I could see that my taxes for spending time in Penzance were used for the good of Penzance generally, let’s say for public toilets, I would contribute. But I know it won’t be, become that’s how all aspects of our taxation are used. It’s why we are in the mess we are in now, with everywhere, and everything strapped for cash. The money is there, but glory projects, ill thought out plans, poorly monitored tendering processes, you name it get in the way. This country wastes billions of pounds in such ways.

My feeling is that a £2 per room tax will make very little difference to hotels where an extra £2 will make very little difference to an already substantial price. If you are paying over £100 a night then £2 is insignificant although on the cheapest ones it just might slow things down a bit.

At the cheaper end of the market like camp sites where £2 is a greater proportion of the total cost it might be a problem and drive a few elsewhere.  Sites just outside the city boundary may find themselves more competitive or just add the tax value to make more money.

Time will tell, but I think because places abroad manage it successfully then it is bound to come in the tourist traps over here. It is difficult to see cash strapped councils missing out but it will mean a big advantage for places like Edinburgh in the ability to charge it. They do need to be careful though as if they overdo it then it may do far more harm than good.

It may start off at £2 (per night/per person???)  but once a tax like this is introduced it won't be abandoned easily, unless of course tourists take to the street wearing yellow gilets!