ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute Visitor Levy

The visitor economy is a key industry for ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute and we want to keep it that way – sustainable, competitive and good for businesses and residents. We have to face the harsh reality that many services used by visitors and shared with residents are not a statutory duty of a council to deliver and are under threat from shrinking public budgets. The national visitor levy legislation is an option for investment specifically in the visitor economy, to benefit visitors, residents, and the area as a competitive visitor destination.

In order to involve our communities in assessing a visitor levy for ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute, the council will run a 12-week consultation between January and April 2025. We will provide more details on this in early to mid-January. You can view the full report and draft consultation that went to council on 20 December 2024 on the council website.

What is a Visitor Levy and who would pay it?

The Scottish Government's visitor levy legislation () allows a charge to be introduced on overnight stays in hotels and other short-term accommodations, to raise funds to support and sustain local services and infrastructure for the visitor economy and residents. It would be paid by people using hotels and other short term accommodation.

Why is the council consulting on this and why should communities get involved?

The consultation is a way of assessing a visitor levy for ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute along with our communities. Other areas in Scotland are considering a levy; we want people in ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute to have the same opportunity.

Visitors to ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute expect to have access to services that local people also use but there are over 30 times more visitors to ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute than there are in the total population of the area and this has an impact on the wear and tear of local infrastructure and services. The council does not have a statutory duty to provide some of these services. Growing tourism pressures and reduced budgets mean that new investment is needed to sustain public services impacted by the visitor industry, and make improvements to the local visitor economy.

The Visitor Levy legislation creates opportunities to raise millions of pounds of investment to support the local tourism industry, sustain the many services that visitors and residents share, and keep ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute as a competitive visitor destination.

Estimates indicate that a 5% visitor levy could raise a gross amount of around £9 million a year for services and infrastructure supporting ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute’s visitor economy and residents.

What kind of services or support could levy income be used for?

Visitor levy income must be used to fund services and support for the visitor economy. As many visitor services are used also by residents, this could benefit visitors and residents. Consultation questions will include asking people what they would like income spent on, and also what support businesses would like if involved with it.

Examples of services used by visitors include roads and car parks, electric vehicle charge points, harbours, piers, slipways, public toilets, walking paths, motorhomes waste disposal points and recycling centres. Many are not a statutory duty of a council to provide so at risk from shrinking public funding.

Examples of how income could be used include services to extend the visitor season, infrastructure options from toilets to transport, and support for individual tourism businesses.

If a visitor levy was introduced, a Visitor Levy Forum involving community and business reps would be set up as part of the process to agree what levy income was spent on.

How can I have a say?

You can give us your views during a 12-week consultation that will run from January to April 2025. We will publish more details about this in the New Year. The consultation asks questions such as:

What services would people want income from a levy to be spent on if one was introduced?
What support would tourism businesses like with managing a levy?
How much should a levy be?
For anyone against a levy, how else would they see the visitor economy being funded in future?

You can view the full report and draft consultation that went to the council on 20 December 2024 on the council website.

Find out more on the . For more information about the situation in ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Did you know?

There are 30 times more visitors to ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute than there are in the total population of the area and this has an impact on the wear and tear of local infrastructure and services. A Visitor Levy presents an opportunity to improve and develop these services for everyone, by securing revenue that will allow for much-needed funding in many areas.
Funds from a Visitor Levy could be used to support tourism businesses to develop their services; improve local infrastructure that benefits tourists; create culture and heritage opportunities, including events; and develop connectivity to make it easier to travel between islands and destinations.
With over 21,000 bed spaces (serviced and unserviced), tourism in ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute is one of the area’s largest sectors in terms of economic impact and employment. Visitor levy funds could help to support and sustain local services and infrastructure for the visitor economy and residents.

Find out more on the . For more information about the situation in ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute please see our Frequently Asked Questions.