Visitor Levy Amendment Bill passed

The Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which has been approved by Holyrood, allows local authorities to set the levy as a single fixed amount or multiple fixed amounts, such as for different times of year.

Councils will be able to choose between the new option or the existing percentage rate model.

Public finance minister Ivan McKee said: “This legislation strengthens the visitor levy by giving councils the flexibility to choose the approach that best reflects their local area, empowers local decision making and ensures the benefits of tourism are shared across communities.

“Tourism is an important sector and we want visitors to have a positive experience as they share our culture, landscapes and hospitality.

“We have worked closely with councils and tourism bodies, and across Parliament, and want to ensure visitor levies are an effective option for councils who choose to introduce them to boost investment in local economies and services.”