Add Edinburgh to the list of cities concerned about how much tourism is growing, as the city’s Council is asking for the power to levy a “bed tax” on hotel rooms and vacation rentals.
Unlike campaigns in a number of cities, including Barcelona and Venice, that have been marked by demands for limiting tourism, Edinburgh’s government is proposing a levy of £1 or £2 per night with funds to go to upgrading the city’s tourism infrastructure.
Travel industry companies are split on the proposal; some, like Edinburgh Airport, support the idea as long as it is universal while most of the hotel industry is opposed because they feel it will set a precedent for other UK cities to follow.
For a fuller discussion of Edinburgh’s issues around the tax from The Guardian (UK), click HERE.
