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.

Starting in 2026, visitors to Scotland’s capital will pay a 5 percent levy on overnight accommodations, expected to raise millions annually to support local infrastructure and services.

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.

Edinburgh councillors have approved a visitor levy, or tourist tax, but have agreed to extend the deadline for applying it to bookings.

Edinburgh councillors are to vote for Scotland’s first visitor levy designed to raise £50m annually for the authority. The final proposals for the scheme, taking account the findings of the 12-week public consultation, were presented by officers at a special meeting of the Policy & Sustainability Committee last Friday (January 17).