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"Edinburgh marketing chief wants ‘tourist tax’ to generate £10m"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    missed out the bit in that headline where he says we need to raise £10m a year so that his department can spend it.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. PS
    Member

    Total no-brainer. Berlin is charging me a 5% levy for staying in a hotel. That's hardly driving the tourists away.

    Would be better to ring-fence it for improvements to make the city more attractive for visitors and residents alike - you know, pedestrianisation, traffic reduction measures and all that.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. acsimpson
    Member

    Did someone not say that VAT on hotels is higher here so in effect tourists already pay more tax than in these other countries?

    Will there be benefits for the tourists such as the free public transport offered by some.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  5. Fountainbridge
    Member

    Will there be benefits for the tourists such as the free public transport offered by some.

    Great way to subsidise the trams. "Free tram when you fly in to Edinburgh. Print out a ticket in arrivals lounge".

    The best I've seen was being allowed 90 mins free public transport when flying in.

    I've visited many European cities over the years and can't say a bed tax has ever put me off.

    Knowing Edinburgh council though they'd spend the £10mill without doing anything like that. Even if they ring-fenced it they'd stretch it to debatable items. Trams needs extended to Leith for all the cruise ships, George Street needs pedestrianised, Central Library needs a refit etc etc

    Posted 8 years ago #
  6. Ed1
    Member

    Did someone not say that VAT on hotels is higher here so in effect tourists already pay more tax than in these other countries?

    "The uk does already have higher indirect taxes than many European destinations for tourist. From air tax, to VAT (in the uk hotels charge full vat, unlike many European countries, the full VAT is more than the room charge at times), to alcohol duty to our smaller subsides for public transport system resulting in a higher user fee. "

    http://www.vatlive.com/vat-rates/european-vat-rates/eu-vat-rates/

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15689#post-203047

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

  8. gkgk
    Member

    The tourist tax is a trading tax upon the hotels. Hotels are swallowing Edinburgh, it seems, so they should charge £1 per hotel star (pppn).

    We should call it taxe de sejour too, cos it is more fun!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. mgj
    Member

    Trust me, the EEN is just making this stuff up. No decision made. I want to win the lottery tomorrow; has no effect on the real world chances of it happening.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

  11. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Ms Amour said further funding for the festivals could help them spread out of the city centre and develop new collaborations across the country.

    However the former British Council executive said Festivals Edinburgh was committed to the introduction of a controversial new funding mechanism which would see businesses which benefit from the city’s major events pay a contribution for the first time.

    She insisted such a scheme is necessary to ensure Edinburgh retained its world-leading reputation - weeks after tourism leaders launched a campaign against the introduction of any form of tourist or bed tax, warning it could “damage” and “hinder” the industry.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/what-s-on/edinburgh-festival-to-get-extra-funding-for-70th-birthday-1-4019259

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Edinburgh City Council’s new chief executive says the Scottish capital risks slipping into decline as a tourism destination if it fails to bring in an extra charge for visitors.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/what-s-on/edinburgh-leaders-warn-of-city-decline-without-tourist-tax-1-4024864

    But proper city 'destinations' have proper cycle hire schemes...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

  14. chdot
    Admin

  15. chdot
    Admin

  16. chdot
    Admin

  17. chdot
    Admin

  18. chdot
    Admin


    The SNP leader of the city council has been “slapped down” by Scotland’s tourism secretary over his plans to introduce a tourism tax in Edinburgh.

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/city-council-leader-in-twitter-spat-with-fiona-hyslop-over-tourist-tax-1-4763780

    Posted 5 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

  20. Rosie
    Member

    On Broadcasting House, Radio 4 this morning, 30 minutes in. Not much of a debate, but that's Broadcasting House, which is superficial at best.

    Bloke opposed to it said that tourists would be put off by the tax. I've never heard of anyone not going to a place because of the tourist tax - it's a negligible part of the price of a holiday.

    Also, putting tourists off? What's the problem with that for most Edinburghers?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

    ‘Cause tourists are money

    Posted 5 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    And 78 per cent said they would not be put off even if the proposed tax was as high as £4 per night.

    A similar survey of residents found 59 per cent backing for a tourist tax.

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/business/poll-edinburgh-tourist-tax-would-not-deter-92-of-visitors-1-4798959

    Posted 5 years ago #
  23. neddie
    Member

    Asking tourists if they would be put off is a lot different to whether they would actually be put off.

    I would suspect, even at £10 night, it would only put off a handful of backpackers.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  24. gembo
    Member

    I paid 3 euros 50 for 4 nights in Mallorca in April this year (i mean on top of the actual cost which was a bit more than that). I was predisposed towards my roomie as he was only a very light snorer, so I paid his too.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  25. acsimpson
    Member

    @gembo. Did you get anything in return for the money? In Switzerland some sort of room tax is common and you usually get a local transport pass in return for it.

    Perhaps the tax should be tiered. £1 if you room cost under £20 rising to £100 if you room cost over £1000.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  26. gembo
    Member

    @acsimpson nada in return. THe reception staff very apologetic about levying the charge. Everyone was cool a out it. We had a very nice break cycling in the sun and the hotle staff all very friendly. I was expecting a bit more than 3 euros fifty hence my generosity

    Posted 5 years ago #

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