Consultation to open on tourist tax in Highlands

A proposed visitor levy in the Highlands will go to public consultation following a vote by councillors.

The draft policy will be subject to a 12-week consultation to gather views from residents, businesses and communities across the Highlands after councillors voted to proceed with the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, August 25.

As it stands the proposal is based on a tiered fixed-rate per room/area per night, rather than a percentage charge on accommodation costs.

A levy of £5 per room/area per night could apply to hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, rooms in houses, short-term lets and similar accommodation.

A levy of £2 per room/area per night could apply to hostels and campsites.

The levy would apply across the whole Highland Council area.

It is intended that the Highland Visitor Levy will apply for only nine months of the year, excluding December, January and February.

But there were two attempts to change the current proposals, with both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives putting forward amendments.

The Conservative group leader Ruraidh Stewart, Skye and Raasay, wanted the council to fully weigh-up the economic impacts of the proposal before going to consultation.

He said: “Evidence first, consultation second,” adding “we simply don’t know” the potential cost of a levy.

Leader of the opposition Alasdair Christie, Inverness Ness-side, proposed that Highland residents be exempt from the charges and that revenue raised should be put towards building more homes.

He said: “This is an important opportunity – we need to consult.”

But he added: “We don’t believe that Highland residents should pay at all – that’s just simply wrong.”

Both amendments were ultimately defeated by the motion to consult on the draft visit levy as it stands.

Council leader Raymond Bremner said a lot of the points raised during the debate could potentially form part of the policy later down the line.

Assistant chief executive for place, Malcolm MacLeod, also explained the policy in its current form was a draft and, therefore, “open to change”.

Another concern raised during the debate centred around the uncertainty over national legislation on how the charges will apply to those staying in campervans and motorhomes but not in registered campsites.

Cllr Bremner said the council would continue to lobby the government on the matter.

The proposed scheme has been developed following engagement with tourism businesses, accommodation providers and partner organisations, alongside changes to national legislation that give local authorities greater flexibility over how a visitor levy can be structured.