Union chief calls for tax on tourists

A TAX on tourists in Scotland's capital city would help to soften the blow of funding cuts, according to a trade union leader.

John Stevenson, president of Unison's Edinburgh branch, said the city council should look into charging tourists as a way of generating income.

He said the extra cash would help "hold together the framework of public services".

Mr Stevenson said: "We are not talking about great funds - it won't rescue all public services but will help maintain their infrastructure.

"The council is in a disadvantageous position in that it puts money into festivals and gets nothing back from that."

The call comes after the City of Edinburgh Council said last week that it needed to find 90 million in savings over the next three years.

A hotel bed tax or tourist tax would add a surcharge to hotel room fees to raise money for council services during the festivals.

A spokesman for the city council said a bed tax was "neither being ruled in nor ruled out at this stage".

A spokesman for VisitScotland said: "We welcome debate on the issue, so that the potential impacts and benefits for tourism in Scotland are fully explored."