Motion 21
Visitors Levy Scotland
“That this Congress notes that the City of Edinburgh Council is making preparations to introduce Scotland’s first visitor levy which will be collected from visits after 24 July 2026. It will apply to a range of overnight accommodation and is expected to raise up to £50 million a year. It is anticipated that other Scottish local authorities will also consider a visitors levy.
“It is the Council’s general aim to use ‘the levy to manage tourism sustainably and boost projects which benefit the experience of visitors and residents.’
“Congress calls on some of the visitors levy to be used for producing, retrofitting, and retaining affordable and good-quality council homes. This would not only provide needed housing for working people, but for tourism workers who are amongst the lowest-paid and already struggle to find suitable accommodation in our cities.
“Congress calls on local authorities to invest in those who work in the tourist industry. The investment can take the form of better training opportunities, promoting better terms and conditions, including discouraging poor contracts of employment (like zero-hour contracts). The levy can be used to promote the voice of those who work in tourism by encouraging trade union organisation.
“Congress calls on the General Council to write to all Scottish local authorities to inform them of STUC policy regarding the visitors levy.”
Mover: Edinburgh Trades Union Council
RSS