Visitor charges on the cards

VISITORS could be charged a fee just to be able to stay overnight in Dumfries and Galloway.

Under radical new plans that will reshape tourism in Scotland, local authorities now have the power to introduce a ‘visitor levy’ scheme.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen councils have already agreed to go ahead with introducing charges for visitors – which is an extra fee on top of their accommodation prices.

No decision has yet been made in Dumfries and Galloway, but councillors will soon be considering the move.

A report on the issue will be tabled at the economy and resources committee next Tuesday.

The document reads: “All Scottish local authorities now have the power under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 (the Act) to charge a levy on overnight stays. Any money raised by a levy is to be reinvested locally on facilities and services substantially for, or used by, visitors.

“The Act gives local authorities in Scotland the power to introduce a levy for overnight accommodation based on a percentage of the cost of that accommodation.

“Local authorities have the power to determine the percentage rate set, the geographical area where it applies and any local exemptions.

“The authority can also specify a maximum number of nights to apply the levy and whether it applies to all or part(s) of its area.”

The levy does not apply to visitors who are in receipt of disability benefits, payments or allowances.

If councillors agreed that this would be beneficial for the region, an engagement process would be expected to take place with residents, visitors, and people running accommodation businesses.

At next week’s meeting, councillors will be asked to agree to an early engagement with all stakeholders.

If this was approved, it is hoped that a report would come back to the council in spring next year with the findings.

The council report states: “If the council chose to investigate a visitor levy scheme, there are several other authorities to learn from.”