Council to engage with tourism sector over proposed Aberdeenshire Visitor Levy

The views of key stakeholders including accommodation providers are to be sought after councillors agreed to investigate the potential implementation of an Aberdeenshire Visitor Levy. 

With Edinburgh now having started the levy process and many other authorities also now consulting, there was cross-chamber support for the development of an engagement process for the tourism sector during yesterday’s full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council.

The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 gives local authorities the power to introduce a levy which is charged on the purchase of overnight accommodation at a percentage rate. 

Those wishing to introduce such an initiative in their area are required to create a Visitor Levy Scheme which sets out a wide range of criteria including the geographical area covered, the percentage rate of the levy, the date on which a scheme comes into force and the period of time in which it will be active.

Types of accommodation which could be considered for any levy could include hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast, self-catering, camping sites and caravan parks.

Any future levy would enable Aberdeenshire Council to invest more in local tourism facilities and services and help it develop, support and sustain the local visitor economy in line with its tourism and regional economic strategies.

Further details of the process will be published in the coming months, however the Council anticipates the public consultation running from June to September. 

Cllr Gillian Owen, Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said afterwards: “We have a vibrant and growing tourism sector in Aberdeenshire that supports 7,300 FTE jobs and generates £486 million in economic impact annually. It is essential that we fully understand both the impact and opportunities that a visitor levy will bring to Aberdeenshire and that its introduction must not stifle the continued growth of our tourism sector. I look forward to the engagement process which will help officers develop a proposed visitor levy scheme for Aberdeenshire which we will be able to make an informed decision on as to whether a visitor levy will harm or support the continued growth of the tourism sector in Aberdeenshire.”

Depute Leader Cllr Anne Stirling added: “Tourism is one of our six key sectors in Aberdeenshire, with more than 4.4 million people visiting our area annually and 1.29 million staying in the area overnight. It is therefore vital that we safeguard the continued growth of the Aberdeenshire tourist sector. I am pleased that councillors from across the chamber have agreed to investigate the potential of a visitor levy which will enable services to carefully collate all the evidence we gather over the coming months and which will allow us to make a decision later this year.”