Tourist tax would be 'a negative thing' for business, says Caithness hotelier
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A PROPOSED tourist tax in the Highlands would adversely impact on local businesses involved in the industry.
That is the view of hotelier Andrew Mackay and Catherine MacLeod of Thrumster House which provides a range of facilities, including bed and breakfast, self-catering, fishing and field sports.
Mr Mackay, who has hotels in Wick, Thurso and Castletown, said the tax would be " a negative thing" for the far north.
"It is not a good idea and is not very well thought although it is becoming more common throughout the world," he said. "It seems there is a feeling that tourism is booming so let's tax it, and taxes generally go up not down. Visitors numbers are up but we are not seeing more revenue as people are using camper vans and Airbnb."
Mr Mackay added: "I appreciate Highland Council is cash-strapped but there are other ways to raise money to improve the infrastructure. What is needed is a level playing field for everybody. It is a shame for tourists to be singled out. After all, retail companies, timber firms and wind farms all use the roads as well as visitors to the area. I think such a tax would give the perception this is a more expensive area to visit."
Ms MacLeod also feels the planned tax would be bad for business and pointed out that many people come to the area as day visitors or in motor homes and asked how they would be charged.
She wondered how much the tax would be and how it would be administered.
"Will it be taken to Inverness and used there? But if it is ring-fenced for each area it would not raise enough to do anything," she said. "I am not for it. Despite the success of the North Coast 500 this is still a struggling area."
They expressed their concerns after Highland Council launched a consultation, which runs until the autumn, on a proposed tourist tax called a Transient Visitor Levy.
The Highlands has around four million overnight visitors a year, and another two million day visitors, including cruise visitors.
The council is considering a tourist tax and thinks visitors should help contribute to the maintenance and development of the free public services and infrastructure they use. The tax could raise between £5 million and £10 million a year to invest in Highland tourism.
The council leader, Councillor Margaret Davidson, said: "Tourism is of huge importance to the Highlands. We recognise the benefits, challenges and impact that tourists have across the area and are committed to supporting this industry to ensure its success is sustainable.
"A Highland Transient Visitor Levy is one option the council is considering to raise income to manage the challenges tourism is both facing and contributing to in the area."
The Scottish Government has committed to introducing legislation by 2021 that would allow local authorities in Scotland to implement a Transient Visitor Levy.
Findings from the consultation will be reported to the full council on December 12.
