Tourist Tax
Interesting article today outlining the latest Treasury 'Modelling Exercise' to introduce a tax based similar to a tourist tax that is applied in France… Edinburgh is set to introduce a tourism tax on accommodation in the capital from July 2026 set at 5% levy per night purely to improve the city…this will be separate from any the Scottish Gov that may be introduced. The Welsh plan to charge a levy of £1.25 per person per night is still in the back corridor. Given the country's present financial situation i think this will be more of a 'when' than an 'if' the Government will bring in such a tax.
If the Welsh plan of a fixed levy of £1.25 per person per night is introduced..well you can do the maths…but would realise significantly less tax than using the French model, almost double, but the latter would have a lesser impact on our site fees…Those of us that travel 'over there' are used to the varied regional and local tourist taxes that are applied. Typically less than £1 pn/pp for campsites rising for Gites /Hotels etc.
It will be interesting to see how the club 'collects' this tax (Edinburgh Site 2026)…will they show an 'all in one price' or itemised the tax separately… Which ever way, site fees are certainly going up !!
Comments
-
I don't really worry too much, in fact I don't worry at all, about tourist taxes. I've paid them in other places and I just accept that if I want to go to a place that has it then I have to pay it.
The charges for a couple at the Edinburgh site are between £35 now, July is £45, August goes up £55, (even £59 on one night I assume there's something going on that week?) then down to under £40 in September, so the increase will be between £1.95 and £2.75 (or £3 on that one night), most of the time the increase will be around £2.
I'd happily pay that if I wanted to go there.
2 -
I'd love to know how Tourist Tax is spent. We recently went to Rhodes for our 40th wedding anniversary and took our son, partner and grandson. I was totally floored by the amount of tax I had to pay. It was based on the star rating of the hotel. I think it was 14 nights x 4 adults x 4 Euro = 224 Euro.
When you stepped out of the hotel you could not walk safely along the pavements as they were falling apart.
Colin
0 -
I don't have a particular issue with tourist taxes as like others I have paid them all over Europe. My slight concern is how the money raised is spent. If, in general, its spent to improve tourist and facilities for locals I have no objection. However if it just goes into the coffers of the local authority I am not so keen. The trouble is as tourists we get no say!
David
0 -
I too agree with your comments if the tax raised was paid to the area in which it is collected…for example to the Mayors office and more importantly 'Ring Fenced' for Tourism…but this is a National tax which will be paid directly to the treasury and into the 'General' pot. Edinburgh City have been 'canny' by doing their own thing…
0 -
I tend to think if it works abroad it will probably work here. It needs care though and possibly Edinburgh is being a bit too greedy. It may mean that people visiting there might avoid the places lying outside the city entre for those just outside the boundary. If you can afford the city entre hotels you will not notice the addition.
I am not sure how the club will show this but it is the total that concerns most of us, so I doubt many people care. It might be shown as a separate item just to make it clear the club are not profiteering.
0
