TURN DOWN A BED TAX

Posted on 01/12/2016 | About Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Government officials in Edinburgh wants to levy a bed tax to help pay for the city’s international festivals. As much as they are trying to make it happen, the Scottish tourism industry is fighting to turn it down.

Edinburgh’s council members are in favour of the tax to help invest in their city’s cultural events such as the Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival and the city’s Hogmanay celebrations. The Scottish Tourism Alliance (representing 250 businesses and associations) has stated that funding for festivals is not sensible when Scotland is already struggling to stay a competitive tourism destination. Chair Stephen Leckie said, “The reason we continue to resist any kind of tourist tax is we feel the industry is already taxed enough.” Visit-Scotland has said a visitor-tax could “damage” and “hinder” one of Scotland’s best-performing industries. Although the bed tax has roused the interest of council members in Edinburgh, the Scottish government is not showing much support at this time.