Councillors to vote on tourist tax plans

Councillors will vote on much-debated plans to introduce a so-called 'tourist tax' in Stirling tomorrow.

- STUART MCFARLANE

The introduction of visitor levies has been an area of debate all over Scotland, with a leading tourism trade body urging Stirling Council to hold off on the plans to avoid causing confusion for local venues.

Under new powers granted by the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, the draft scheme proposed a five per cent levy on overnight stays across visitor accommodation within the Stirling Council area, which chiefs are now recommending is set at three per cent.

A yearlong period of consultation was launched last December.

In documents submitted ahead of a full council meeting tomorrow (December 11), council chiefs have proposed changes - including a reduction in the levy rate from five to three per cent and the charge to apply only from the start of April to the end of October in an effort to ease any pressure during low season.

Officers estimate the charge could generate more than £2million of extra funding for the council, which they say would be "reinvested in services and facilities largely used by leisure and business visitors to encourage tourism throughout the Stirling area".