The Scottish capital city of Edinburgh is set to introduce a groundbreaking tourist tax, becoming the first city in the United Kingdom to charge such a fee for visitors staying overnight, CNN reported.
Local council members have approved the measure, which will take effect in mid-2026, targeting overnight stays in various types of accommodations, including hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and short-term rental properties.?
Visitors will be required to pay a fee equivalent to five percent of their accommodation cost per night, capped at five consecutive nights. Accommodation providers will be tasked with collecting the tax on behalf of local authorities.
Jane Meagher, head of the City of Edinburgh Council, emphasized the importance of the tax ahead of the council’s vote. She told councilors that tourism “puts strain on the city’s resources”, which requires funding to develop “in a planned and sustainable way”.
According to the official tourism body Visit Scotland, nearly 5 million visitors spent ?2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) in Edinburgh in 2023 alone. The council anticipates the tax will generate ?45–?50 million ($56–$62 million) annually by the end of the decade.
The notion of imposing a tourist tax was first floated in 2018 but only became feasible after Scotland’s Visitor Levy Act took effect in July 2024. This legislation mandates that revenue collected from the levy must be reinvested in local facilities and services used by visitors.
Ahead of the final decision, some council members pushed for a higher charge, citing the need for additional revenue to address such issues as affordable housing. Many workers in the hospitality sector reportedly struggle with Edinburgh’s high housing costs.
After an initial draft of the proposed law was presented back in August, the city council began gathering input from local residents and businesses. More than half of these backed the five percent charge, while 62 percent of tourists opposed the tax or suggested a lower rate, according to the council’s findings.
Initially, the tax was proposed to apply for up to seven consecutive nights, but the duration was reduced to five after Visit Scotland and Edinburgh Festivals raised concerns about performers and festival workers who frequently stay for several weeks during events.
Final approval of the plan was delivered today, with Meagher hailing the move as, “a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit—and live in—all year round.”?
Edinburgh’s new rule arrives amid a broader trend of cities introducing or experimenting with tourist levies. Elsewhere in the UK, Wales’ government is preparing to implement a similar scheme later this year.?
Venice trialed an entrance fee for day-trippers last year, applauding its success in raising millions of euros to support infrastructure. Amsterdam is known for having one of Europe’s highest tourist taxes, with a 12.5 percent fee built into hotel room rates.
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