Aberdeen City Council has agreed to a public consultation for a potential Visitor Levy scheme which will see a percentage-based charge on overnight accommodation stays.
If it goes ahead, the earliest a visitor levy scheme can come into effect in Aberdeen is 1 April 2027. For public consultation, a rate of 7% is proposed which would produce a levy of £5 per night on an average hotel room of £70 a night.
Convener of Finance and Resources councillor Alex McLellan said, “Aberdeen City Council has developed the visitor levy scheme with key stakeholders which will now go out to consultation.
“There is the potential for the scheme to raise significant funds to help support our ambition to be a leading visitor destination.
“Our decision around whether or not to introduce a visitor levy will be informed by the consultation as it is important to consider the views of the trade, and a key part of that discussion will be around how the council could use the funds to boost the city’s economy, increase visitor numbers, and, in turn, fill hotel rooms.”
Chair of the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association Frank Whitaker said, “It is fair to say that the hotel sector lobbied hard against legislation for a visitor levy.
“However, the law now enables local authorities across Scotland to implement a visitor levy, so it is incumbent on industry to work with local authorities to develop effective schemes that support local economic growth.
“The introduction of a visitor levy scheme in Aberdeen City has the potential to be a positive economic growth lever if correctly invested, benefitting not just all types of visitors to Aberdeen but also local residents.”
