Aberdeen council to consider 7% 'tourist tax'

Plans for a proposed 7% "tourist tax" in Aberdeen will be considered by councillors next week.

The visitor levy allows councils in Scotland to charge a fee or tax for overnight stays in hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other types of accommodation.

A 5% levy was agreed by councillors in Edinburgh last month, and Glasgow has just begun a consultation on a similar 5% tax.

A report going before Aberdeen City Council's finance committee asks councillors to approve a consultation on the proposed 7% levy, which would result in an estimated average increase of about £5 per night for visitors.

The earliest date the tax could be introduced in Aberdeen would be April 2027.

The report for councillors says the levy could stimulate tourism and support jobs.

Councillors will consider approving outline proposals for a tourism tax, set at 7% and putting it out for consultation

Aberdeen City Council said it was unable to comment ahead of the committee meeting, which is on Wednesday.

David Weston, of the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association, said he had concerns about the potential impact of such a levy on visitor numbers.

Of the 7% figure, he told BBC Scotland News: "I'm astonished, because Aberdeen does not suffer from over tourism.

"They're not looking at all at the dangers to tourism and the damage that would to do to tourism, to Aberdeen, which would have a wider impact across the whole of the economy."

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said there was a time and a place for the levy.

"Importantly, the proportionality of the levy that would be applied needs to be right," he said. "We can't afford to get this one wrong.

"Taxing a tourist with a punitive level of tax to be honest with you, is very definitely not the right way to go right now, in the climate we're facing."

Visitors to Edinburgh will be charged a tourist tax designed to raise £50m annually, after city councillors voted in favour of the move last month.

The charge, similar to schemes already used in Germany, Spain and Italy, covers hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering accommodation as well as rooms and properties let through websites like Airbnb.

City of Edinburgh Council said the levy of 5% would take effect from 24 July 2026 and the revenue raised would be spent on infrastructure improvements.