No plans for tourist ‘bed tax’ says Ewing

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a tourism or “bed tax” for the Scottish capital, tourism minister Fergus Ewing has confirmed.

Mr Ewing was speaking at the launch of a tourism strategy for the city yesterday, setting goals for the next ten years. He said a “business improvement district”, with a levy system of contributions, would instead allow businesses to promote and improve one of the finest cities in the world.

Edinburgh city council voted in December to approve a bed tax, but the details of how it could be used to promote the city or its festivals are unclear.

Mr Ewing repeated the Scottish Government’s enthusiasm for the film Brave as one route to promoting Scottish tourism. The Pixar animation film, the story of a mythical Scottish princess, voiced by Billy Connolly and other top names, would be a “once-in-a-century opportunity” through its global release, he said.