Visitors to Edinburgh will be charged a tourist tax designed to raise £50m annually, after city councillors voted in favour of the move. The charge, which mimics those already used in Germany, Spain and Italy,

Local politicians in Edinburgh have approved a tourist tax for visitors staying overnight the Scottish capital, introducing the first charge of its kind in the United Kingdom.

Edinburgh is to introduce Scotland’s first ever visitor levy, adding a 5% tax to overnight hotel stays. The fee, agreed by councillors in a virtual meeting, is expected to raise up to £50m a year to reinvest in the city. Businesses will need to apply the levy to any advance bookings made from 1 October 2025 for stays on or after 24 July 2026.

Scottish city to introduce country’s first tourist tax - Those staying in the city will have to pay a 5% fee per night

A five per cent charge will be levied on hotels, B&Bs, campsites and accommodation let through websites such as Airbnb

The plans being considered by the City of Edinburgh Council would see overnight tourists charged a 5% levy - which the council has said could raise £50m a year.

The City of Edinburgh Council has voted to enforce a 5% charge on overnight stays in a bid to use the area's booming tourist trade to the local authority's advantage. Those visiting Scotland's capital will have to pay a 5%-per-night fee for up to seven nights when staying at hotels,

Councillors agreed to delay the introduction of the new charge until October to give the industry time to prepare