Tourists staying in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, will soon be required to pay a tourist tax. The local government has approved a visitor levy and established this rule, which will come into effect in mid-2026.
After that, tourists staying in certain types of hotels, hostels, apartments, and guesthouses will need to pay a 5% charge on their accommodation cost per night. This charge will apply for up to five nights.
According to the City of Edinburgh Council, the funds collected from this fee will be used to build tourism infrastructure and promote sustainable development. In 2023, approximately 5 million tourists spent 2.2 billion pounds (2.7 billion US dollars) in Edinburgh, according to Visit Scotland’s website, the national tourism body.
It is expected that the new fee will raise between 45 to 50 million pounds (56 to 62 million US dollars) annually by 2028 or 2029. The idea of a tourist tax in Edinburgh has been discussed since 2018. The implementation became possible after the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act was passed in July, as reported by CNN.
Edinburgh has now joined the list of European cities that have introduced a tourist tax in recent years. The Welsh government is also planning to introduce similar legislation in Scotland this year. Additionally, Venice implemented a temporary entry fee for day-trippers last year.
