Local MSP Craig Hoy has repeated his call for Dumfries and Galloway to suspend all consideration of introducing a visitor levy following a significant climbdown by the Scottish Government.
On Tuesday, the Scottish Government announced plans for emergency legislation to tackle problems with the original legislation following industry fears about the impact of charging an accommodation tax on a percentage basis.
The move had been slammed as a tax on those who stay in accommodation locally regardless of whether they were international or domestic visitors or whether they were on holiday, on business or staying in a hotel to access services such as the NHS.
If passed, the new bill will still allow local authorities to charge a percentage-based visitor levy, but for those that require a different model, the bill will introduce additional flexibility to set either a single fixed amount or a range of fixed amounts for different purposes or areas. This could mean visitors to Dumfries and Galloway paying higher prices for hotel, bed and breakfast and campsite accommodation.
The SNP U-turn came amid mounting criticism of the new tax on accommodation from local operators, which is presently being considered by Scottish Councils, including Dumfries and Galloway.
Mr Hoy, who is also his party’s candidate for Dumfriesshire, said: “The Scottish Government has finally listened to industry on their real concerns about the basis on which the Visitor Levy will operate. I continue to oppose this accommodation tax but welcome the change and urge councils who are consulting on the levy to suspend the process. If the council introduces this tax on either a flat fee or a percentage basis, it will do real damage to visitor numbers and the tourism sector across South Scotland.”
Local operators opposed to the so-called tourism tax include Stephen Montgomery, owner of Our Place in Annan and a leading figure in the Scottish Hospitality Group.
Other bodies who opposed the percentage based levy include the Scottish Tourism Alliance and the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.
Last month Mr Hoy co-convened a meeting of hospitality and tourism businesses alongside local politicians David and Oliver Mundell, where the sector made clear its opposition to a tax on accommodation.
