Aberdeen to Implement 7% Charge on Tourist Visits
Aberdeen to Introduce 7% Visitor Levy from 2027
Aberdeen, Scotland, is set to introduce a new visitor levy starting from April 1, 2027. This levy, amounting to 7% of the accommodation cost, is expected to generate over £6.8 million annually.
The levy, often referred to as a "tourist tax," will be charged for overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs, hostels, guest houses, camping sites, caravan parks, and vessels that are permanently or predominantly situated in one place. Cruise ships and motor homes, as well as those in receipt of disability payments, will be exempt from the levy.
Compared to other cities, Aberdeen's 7% levy is higher than the 5% tourist taxes approved for Edinburgh and Glasgow, also in Scotland. The 7% rate is in line with or slightly above many European tourist cities like Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, which typically charge visitor taxes ranging from a few euros per night or a small percentage of accommodation costs. New York, on the other hand, applies a combined hotel room tax of about 14.75% (including state, city, and occupancy taxes), which is substantially higher in percentage terms but structured differently.
Councillor Alex McLellan, committee convener, stated that the visitor levy will provide a significant boost to the local economy. The funds raised from the levy will be used to fund projects that help enhance leisure and business tourism in the city, effectively investing in promotion, events, and development of the tourism sector. The levy is intended to ensure competition in attracting both business and leisure tourism.
In 2024, Aberdeen welcomed 2.2 million overnight visits, contributing to an economic impact from tourism of over £500m. With the implementation of the visitor levy, the city aims to attract more visitors and generate even more revenue for the local economy.
The Aberdeen City Council has approved the 7% visitor levy for the city. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have also approved a 5% levy on overnight stays in hotels, short-term lets, and B&Bs. Edinburgh's tourist tax will be implemented from July 24, 2026, while Glasgow's will start on January 25, 2027.
Stephen Gow, chair of VisitAberdeenshire, believes a well-managed levy scheme will drive growth in Aberdeen's visitor economy. The levy will allow for more frequent major events and conferences in the city, further boosting the local economy.
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(Note: The specific date when the levy was approved by the Aberdeen City Council's finance and resources committee was not provided in the text.)
The introduction of Aberdeen's 7% visitor levy in 2027 aligns with several major European cities known for their travel destinations and lifestyle, such as Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam, that also charge visitor taxes. The funds generated from this levy, primarily from the finance sector, will be invested back into the city to promote and develop its tourism industry, attracting more tourists for both business and leisure purposes, which will, in turn, impact the local lifestyle and industry growth.
