Have you participated in the Argyll and Bute visitor levy consultation?
A visitor levy involves everyone and Argyll and Bute Council is urging people to find out more and get involved in assessing one for the area before the formal consultation closes on 10 April 2025.
People across Scotland are considering a visitor levy for their area, and the council wants communities in Argyll and Bute to have the same opportunity to consider one for here. If a visitor levy was introduced, investment from it could benefit local communities and visitors, as many services used by visitors are shared with residents.
The council has already held a series of online information webinars and drop-in events across Argyll and Bute to help people find out more and get involved, and further events are scheduled to take place over the next couple of weeks. You can find dates and times of upcoming events on the council website along with more information about the visitor levy.
Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to complete the visitor levy consultation survey. Your feedback is appreciated. For anyone who hasn’t yet taken part, I urge you to take the time to find out more about what a visitor levy could mean for you and the area and then give us your views.
“The visitor economy is a key industry for Argyll and Bute but to keep the area as a top visitor attraction we need to consider the reality that many services used by visitors and shared with residents are not a statutory duty of a council to deliver and are under threat from shrinking public budgets. The national visitor levy legislation allows local authorities to introduce a charge to be paid by people staying overnight in hotels and other short-term accommodation, to raise investment specifically in the visitor economy, and so benefit visitors, residents, and the area’s future as a competitive visitor destination.
“There are various different elements to consider when assessing a visitor levy, it’s not a straightforward thing, so I would encourage everyone to find out what a levy could mean for you and give us your views.”
Examples of how visitor levy investment could be spent include roads and waste services, car parks, electric vehicle charge points, harbours, piers, public toilets, walking paths, and recycling centres. Other examples of how visitor levy income could be used include support for individual tourism businesses to develop their services, extending the visitor season, support for culture and heritage opportunities, including events; and developing connectivity to make it easier to travel between islands and destinations.
The consultation invites feedback on for example, what exemptions do you think there should be if a levy was introduced, should a cap on the number of nights be introduced; what support businesses might need, and if you don’t support a visitor levy, views on how the visitor economy could be funded long term?
To find out more about the visitor levy and to take part in the consultation survey, visit: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/visitor-levy
Information events coming up are:
- Monday 24 March – INVERARAY – Inveraray Inn - 4pm-7pm.
- Tuesday 25 March – ONLINE WEBINAR – 5.30pm-6.30pm.
- Friday 28 March – DUNOON – Queen’s Hall - 4pm-7pm.
- Tuesday 1 April - LOCHGILPHEAD - Kilmory Council Chambers - 4pm-7pm.
- Thursday 3 April – ONLINE WEBINAR – 9am-10am.
