Highland Hotels Association’s petition reflects strong local opposition to the proposed visitor tax
The council hasn’t finalized its plans yet, but they’ve extended the consultation period until the end of March. This is to get more input from the tourism industry, which is clearly worried about the impact of this tax.
Many in the hospitality sector are against the idea, even though some popular tourist spots in Europe have successfully implemented similar taxes without scaring off visitors. The Scottish Government allows councils to introduce these levies to help cover costs from mass tourism, like road repairs on the NC500.
You can see the effects of tourism firsthand, like overflowing bins at popular stops. The petition, titled ‘Highland Council – we do not support the Visitor Levy Tax,’ is gaining traction.
The association argues that this tax would hit both visitors and locals who stay overnight for work or medical reasons. They’re concerned it could hurt local businesses and jobs, especially since tourism is a big deal in the Highlands, contributing £1.5 billion to the economy and supporting around 19,000 jobs.
They also worry that this levy would be taxed again, which they think is unfair. It could push small businesses over the VAT threshold, making things even tougher for them.
In their closing statement, they’re urging the Highland Council to rethink this proposal and listen to the community and business owners who would feel the pinch.
