A PETITION calling for Argyll and Bute Council to dump plans for a ‘tourist tax’ has now garnered more than 1,000 signatures.
The Scottish Government’s visitor levy legislation (Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act), passed earlier this year, allows councils to introduce a charge on overnight stays in hotels and other short-term accommodations, to raise funds for local services that benefit visitors and residents. Argyll and Bute council estimates the proposed visitor levy could generate £9M annually, with a three month consultation on the issue set to begin next year.
However the proposal has brought about strong opposition particularly from those in the hospitality and retail sector and now more than 1,000 people have signed a petition entitled ‘Urge Argyll and Bute Council to Say No to the Visitor Levy Proposal’.
The petition was organised and uploaded to the website Change.org by Michelle Devlin, a concerned cafe owner in Argyll who feels the visitor levy will make an already challenging time for retailers even harder.
The petition reads: “I’m gravely worried about our future. The past two years have been challenging due to diminished ferry services and the escalating cost of living. Now, the proposed visitor levy by our council may add to our struggles.
“This proposed levy, intended as an extra tax on visitors, could have far-reaching, negative effects on our local tourism and retail industry. It may cause accommodation providers to offload their establishments due to the extra financial burden, resulting in a decrease in visitor numbers. It is not just our hospitality industry that will feel the impact, but the retail sector as well due to a possible dip in spending.”
It adds: “These sectors are prominent economic drivers for our region, with the tourism industry contributing £360 million and providing over 7,000 full-time jobs (according to a report by VisitScotland). A downward spiral could have dire economic consequences for our community.
We urge the Argyll and Bute Council to reconsider this proposal. Our community needs support and fortitude, not policies that could jeopardise our collective wellbeing. Please, join us in voicing our concerns to the council and protect the future of our local economy. Sign this petition today.”
Tourism is a vital sector for the region, with a VisitScotland report showing 461,000 overnight visits to Argyll and the Isles in 2023, generating £135 million in spending.
Council leader Jim Lynch defended the proposal, highlighting the importance of balancing the needs of both visitors and residents. He encouraged locals to engage with the consultation process, stating that the council aims to find ways to use any potential levy to benefit both residents and businesses.
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council explained: “We need to support a sustainable visitor economy in Argyll and Bute. Visitors to Argyll and Bute expect to have access to services that local people also use but there are 20 times more visitors to Argyll and Bute than there are in the total population of the area and this has an impact on the wear and tear of local infrastructure and services. Many of these services rely on our shrinking public sector budgets and are not a duty of a council to fund. We must explore the opportunities that a Visitor Levy brings for both our tourism industry and local communities.”
They added: “If agreed at council in December, the next stage will be for a 12 week consultation that allows everyone a chance to give their views on a local levy, and what they want any potential income spent on. We are exploring the levy’s potential for bringing significant investment to the area’s visitor economy and keeping Argyll and Bute as a choice destination for visitors and residents. This is about being realistic, supportive and ambitious for growing tourism and quality of life in Argyll and Bute.”
