A response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the principles of a visitor levy was agreed by Argyll and Bute Council on Thursday (28 November).
This will help the Scottish Government’s understanding of the pressures on the local environment and infrastructure felt in some areas by the increase in overnight and day visitors. It will inform development of legislation that would allow local authorities to introduce the levy if they felt it appropriate.
Community councils and local destination marketing organisations were also given opportunity to share their views as part of the Argyll and Bute response.
And businesses and stakeholders on Mull took part in a face-to-face meeting with representatives of the Scottish Government, part of a country-wide series of events, in October.
The proposed Transient Visitor Levy bill would be a means to seek increased powers over local taxation that would help enhance and maintain the tourist experience. No commitment has been taken locally to introduce such a levy.
The latest consultation builds on contributions already made through Transient Visitor Taxes in Scotland: Supporting a National Discussion, which was launched in November 2018, and to which the council previously contributed.
You can read the council’s response to the consultation.
The consultation is open until 2 December 2019 and you can still respond.