Aberdeenshire Council seeks views on ‘tourist tax’

Residents and businesses in Aberdeenshire are to be asked for their views on the introduction of a tourist tax in the region.

Councillors in Edinburgh and Glasgow have already agreed a future 5% visitor levy on accommodation.

Aberdeenshire Council has now launched a survey to gather initial opinions from local people including accommodation providers.

The three-week research will be followed by a “more detailed consultation process” later in the year.

Tourism supports thousands of jobs in Aberdeenshire and is worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the local economy.

The council has not suggested a rate for any visitor levy at this stage.

Among the questions posed by the survey are:

• What would be a suitable rate for the levy?
• How many months of the year should it be in place?
• What should the money raised be spent on?

Alan Turner, chairman of the council’s infrastructure services committee, said: “It is essential that we fully understand both the impact and the opportunities that a visitor levy may bring and that is why our initial engagement with the sector and our communities is so important.

“I do want to stress that no decisions have yet been made and that this process is about listening, learning and exploring what would work best for Aberdeenshire.”

The visitor levy could be used to reinvest in local infrastructure, services and attractions.

The charge is similar to schemes already used in Germany, Spain and Italy.