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

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.

But while councillors are understandably excited about a maximum £50 million annual boost to their finances, commentators on social media are all raising the same concern about overnight stays in the city frequently ranked among the best in the UK and the world.

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,

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.

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