The SLTA has very much welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to rule out a tourist taxation – or bed tax – for visitors to Scotland.
Edinburgh City Council and other local authorities in Scotland had said they were keen to explore the viability of such a tax on visitors, typically charged on a nightly basis for anyone staying overnight.
A statement from the SLTA said: “This is not just good news for businesses providing accommodation, but good news for all tourism businesses.
“Tourist accommodation providers are already disadvantaged with the UK being one of only four countries in Europe that do not have a reduced level of vat for accommodation.
“With tourism being one of the major growth industries in Scotland, further handicaps such as this would only hinder the industry’s and Government’s national tourism strategy, Tourism Scotland 2020.
“The main aims of the strategy are to grow visitor spend by £1 billion from £4.5 billion to £5.5 billion by 2020, increase average visitor spend from £358.56 and increase the total tourism employment figures from 185,100.”