Tourists planning to visit a popular Scottish city could soon be slapped with a 7% tourist tax from April 2027 leaving locals “astonished”.
Aberdeen is on the brink of bringing in a potential visitor levy scheme, otherwise known as a tourist tax that could see visitors charged a fee on overnight stays. Plans for the proposed 7% tax will be considered by councillors next week.
A report going before Aberdeen City Council’s finance committee asks councillors to approve a consultation on the proposed 7% levy, which would result in an estimated average increase of about £5 per night for visitors.
In the report, it is stated setting up the levy would cost Aberdeen City Council £60,000, while including that estimated income from a 7% levy could range between £6.35million and £7.6million.
Examples of venues which could introduce the levy include hotels, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation, caravan sites and accommodation within a vehicle or on board a vessel.
Two thirds of local authorities in Scotland are considering introducing a Visitor Levy, data compiled by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland shows 21 out of 32 Scottish local authorities have been either discussing the idea, or are actively pursuing plans to introduce a tourist tax.
However, Aberdeen appears to have the highest proposed tourist tax figure compared to other council areas considering the move.
David Weston, of the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association, said he was “astonished” at how high the figure is, adding that “Aberdeen does not suffer from overtourism”.
He told BBC Scotland News: “They’re not looking at all at the dangers to tourism and the damage that would to do to tourism, to Aberdeen, which would have a wider impact across the whole of the economy.”
Just last week Edinburgh became the first Scottish city to introduce a tourist tax in a move designed to raise £50m annually after councillors voted to enforce a 5% charge on overnight stays in a bid to use the area’s booming tourist trade to the local authority’s advantage.
Those visiting Scotland’s capital will have to pay a 5%-per-night fee for up to seven nights when staying at hotels, B&Bs and other holiday accommodation from July 24, 2026.
