CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"Edinburgh marketing chief wants ‘tourist tax’ to generate £10m"
(26 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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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 # -
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 # -
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 # -
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 # -
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 # -
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 # -
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 # -
"
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.
"
Posted 8 years ago # -
"
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.
"
But proper city 'destinations' have proper cycle hire schemes...
Posted 8 years ago # -
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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.“
Posted 5 years ago # -
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 # -
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‘Cause tourists are money
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Posted 5 years ago # -
“
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.
“
Posted 5 years ago # -
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 # -
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 # -
@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 # -
@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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