The idea of a tourist tax in the Highlands has locals split, with some supporting it for infrastructure and others fearing it will hurt business.
One local, Mark Lawless, expressed concerns about the council managing the funds. He wants guarantees that the money raised will be used for local projects, not just the usual council expenses. Ryan Mackintosh chimed in, saying that while the funds should be protected, it’s crucial to clarify how they’ll be used.
Eric Draven raised a good point about camper vans parking for free while contributing little to the local economy. Charles Bannerman argued that a tourist tax could help balance things out for residents who feel inconvenienced by tourism.
Opinions vary widely. Some see the tax as a way to improve infrastructure, while others, like Robert Macdonald, call it a greedy tax on visitors. Kyle Sterry noted that many European countries have lower VAT rates for tourism, which makes their tourist levies more manageable.
Russell Deacon and Margaret Kirk both support the idea, provided the funds go towards necessary improvements. However, Susan Macdonald-Kennedy pointed out that the tax would affect everyone staying overnight, not just tourists.
Roy Giovanni added that locals are tired of footing the bill for tourist-related waste and congestion. The debate continues, and it’s clear that this issue has many layers to unpack.
