By Democrat reporter
Argyll and Bute Council have thanked everyone who gave views that will help develop a draft plan for a visitor levy scheme for the region which includes Helensburgh, Cardross, Rhu and Lomond.
If approved by the Council for consultation in December, will go out to the public in January 2025.
A pre-consultation survey followed a decision by councillors in August 2024 to explore the Scottish Government’s visitor levy legislation, which would allow local authorities to introduce a tourist tax.
This legislation allows local authorities across Scotland to introduce a charge on overnight stays in hotels and other short-term accommodation, to raise funds to support and sustain local services and infrastructure for the visitor economy and residents.
The pre-consultation in October received over 1,200 responses. The council will now use these findings, and feedback from briefings with local tourism representatives, to develop a draft Visitor Levy Scheme for the area.
The draft scheme will go to a special council meeting on 20 December 2024 and, if approved for consultation, the council will invite people to give their views on it over 12 weeks from January to March 2025.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, RIGHT, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the pre-consultation. Tourism plays a vital role in Argyll and Bute’s economy so, like many other Scottish local authorities, we are exploring the possibility of introducing a visitor levy to support the future of tourism in Argyll and Bute.
“With shrinking public sector budgets and growing tourism pressures, we need to look at different ways to help raise income locally, to support public services used by tourism, and make improvements to the future delivery of tourism across Argyll and Bute.
“Visitor levy schemes have been successful in many other areas in achieving this, so we must take the opportunity to consider a levy’s potential role in supporting and sustaining tourism locally.”
Visit the council website for more information. Top picture is of Helensburgh seafront, which is a big attraction for visitors.
Hello! Is this a press release from the Argyll and Bute Council? Are you keen to cover this story from the side of the business owners warning that they are on their knees and that this visitor levy/new tax will be the death knell for them? If you are keen to show balance, please do reach out.