INVERCLYDE councillors have agreed to keep an eye on the national roll out of a visitor levy before making any decisions on introducing it in the district.
The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 gives local authorities the power to implement a fee on overnight accommodation charges with the money going towards enhancing services and infrastructure mainly used by visitors.
It is up to each local authority if they want to introduce a levy, how it is administered and at what rate it is set. At the moment just five Scottish councils out of 32 have agreed to do so, with many others carrying out consultations.
A report to Inverclyde’s policy and resources committee heard that informal engagement has taken place with local businesses which found most are opposed to a levy. They believe it would be a burden on the viability of businesses and would put Inverclyde at a disadvantage.
Councillors were also told that Glasgow City Region Intelligence Hub has estimated Inverclyde has up to 178 rooms which may be chargeable. Based on those figures, a 2.5 per cent increase could raise £300,000, a five per cent could raise £600,000 and a 7.5 per cent increase could raise £900,000 per year. There would be a cost to implement the scheme which would make a 2.5 per cent increase negligible and could actually cost the council to implement.
Councillor Robert Moran, chair of the committee said: “The Scottish Tourism Alliance has recommended local authorities which haven’t yet made a decision, to monitor what is happening where it has been introduced before proceeding. I think that’s sensible advice.
“This is new legislation and it’s only right that we take our time to look at it and make sure we get it right for businesses and visitors to Inverclyde.
“I would however urge the Scottish Government to bring forward legislation as a matter of urgency to grant councils the power to introduce a cruise ship levy. Such a levy could potentially be of greater benefit to Inverclyde than an overnight visitor levy.”
It was agreed that Councillor Moran would write to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Jenny Gilruth MSP, on behalf of the committee to urge her to develop legislation on the cruise ship levy as a priority.
