North Lanarkshire urged to pause visitor levy plans

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 16:55 · Archive

The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland calls on North Lanarkshire Council to delay a proposed visitor levy.

The Federation of Small Businesses Scotland is calling on North Lanarkshire Council to pause consideration of a proposed visitor levy until implementation challenges in other parts of Scotland are fully understood and addressed.

The business group warns that North Lanarkshire's accommodation sector is primarily composed of small independent guest houses and bed-and-breakfasts, which lack the administrative capacity and resources of larger multinational hotel chains. A visitor levy could place additional strain on these businesses, which are already dealing with rising energy bills, inflation, higher insurance costs and changing visitor patterns.

Hisashi Kuboyama, engagement manager for FSB Scotland, said the council should not move forward with the levy until learning from problems seen elsewhere. He pointed to significant implementation problems that have emerged following Edinburgh's introduction of a visitor levy, where businesses and online booking platforms have struggled to apply the new rules and guidance has had to be revised.

Kuboyama acknowledged that North Lanarkshire has potential to benefit from targeted investment in its visitor economy, but stressed that any visitor levy must work for local businesses as well as visitors.

How it is being reported

• Tourist tax warning as new levy could put extra pressure on small businessesFSB Scotland warns North Lanarkshire’s proposed visitor levy could strain small B&Bs, urging a pause to learn from Edinburgh’s implementation problems.Glasgow Times · 8 Oct, 15:28
• North Lanarkshire Council urged by business group to pause visitor levy plansThe Federation of Small Businesses Scotland says the council should not move forward with the proposed tourism taxThe Herald · 8 Oct, 14:23

In this story: North Lanarkshire Council · Federation of Small Businesses Scotland · Hisashi Kuboyama · Edinburgh · North Lanarkshire

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