Major UK city plots brutal tourist tax in blow to hotels and AirBnBs

A consultation volition beryllium held connected a visitant levy for overnight stays successful the city. (Image: Getty)

A large UK metropolis is keen to swiftly instrumentality a 5% levy connected overnight stays, arsenic concern leaders pass against rushing into the measure.

Glasgow City Council has agreed to clasp a nationalist consultation connected the levy, which would use to hotels, hostels, impermanent houses, B&Bs, arsenic good arsenic self-catering accommodation, arsenic per Glasgow Live.

Estimates reportedly suggest the taxation would bring successful £12.5 cardinal to the metropolis each year, with much £11 cardinal to walk connected improving the “look and feel” of Scotland's largest city, arsenic good arsenic backing events, aft moving costs are deducted.

Cash would besides beryllium spent connected “destination marketing” to thrust up the fig of visitors travelling to the city.

An nonstop day for the consultation process, during which residents and the accommodation manufacture volition person their say, hasn't been announced yet.

George Square successful the metropolis centre. (Image: Getty)

However, metropolis treasurer Ricky Bell says helium is “very keen that we advancement this arsenic accelerated arsenic we perchance can”, the outlet reports.

After the consultation, a study connected the responses would beryllium prepared earlier the assembly makes a determination connected whether to property up with it, successful which lawsuit an 18-month implementation play would follow.

It comes aft the Scottish superior Edinburgh approved a tourer taxation of its ain earlier this month, with a 5% levy acceptable to beryllium imposed July adjacent year.

Visitors staying successful the metropolis volition person to wage a 5% interest per night, capped astatine 7 nights nether the changes.

Council person Jane Meagher has described the taxation arsenic a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to put successful the city. It comes aft the Scottish Parliament approved authorities allowing councils to present specified a charge.

But commercialized bodies person called for a considered attack successful Glasgow, urging councillors to guarantee the policy, if adopted, is good implemented.

Fiona Campbell, main enforcement of the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers, claimed Edinburgh rushed “headlong into introducing a tourer tax”, says different section authorities should “take banal and tread carefully”.

Campbell said the consultation process needs to “listen to the dependable of concern who volition yet beryllium liable for administering this scheme”.

The metropolis is known for its stunning architecture and vibrant arts scene. (Image: Getty)

“We recognize the rationale down a visitant levy but a severely implemented argumentation volition bash much harm than good," she said, adding: "Our overriding connection to councillors is simple: bash it right, archetypal time.”

At a gathering of Glasgow’s metropolis medication committee yesterday, Cllr Bell said: “Research by the Scottish Government and Edinburgh University some reason that astatine this signifier determination is nary grounds to suggest the instauration of a visitant levy volition person an adverse effect connected visitant numbers.”

If a strategy is introduced, its interaction would beryllium monitored, helium said, pointing to anecdotal grounds that shows “most people" who question to countries with a visitant levy "are not mostly enactment off", Glagow Live reports.

Addressing what the timescale for the process volition be, Cllr Bell said: “I deliberation the program successful beforehand of colleagues contiguous is arsenic accelerated arsenic we perchance tin without tripping ourselves up.

“We lone person to look up the roadworthy to Edinburgh to spot the dangers and the troubles they look to person got into astatine a precise aboriginal stage.”

The City of Edinburgh Council has been approached for comment. 

He added Glasgow planned to present a levy arsenic “fast arsenic we tin but inactive successful consultation with manufacture colleagues, and trying to instrumentality them with us”.

Providers of accommodation providers would beryllium taxable to the levy, and would person to taxable quarterly reports. However, it's been projected that they would clasp 1.5% of the taxation funds collected astatine their constitution for the intent of covering costs.

Cllr Bell said the determination was being considered to marque the metropolis “more charismatic for Glaswegians” and visitors. The consultation volition pass precisely however the wealth generated volition beryllium spent.