UKHospitality Scotland is urging a delay in implementing the planned transition period for collecting the Visitor Levy.
It comes as the City of Edinburgh Council takes a crucial final vote on it today.
The current proposals would implement a transition period from 1 May 2025 where businesses would have to collect levy funds for bookings made for 24 July 2026, onwards.
This is the date when the scheme would come into force.
UKHospitality Scotland has warned that many businesses, and the booking partners they use, will not be ready to start collecting levy funds from May this year.
Leon Thompson, Executive Director of UKHospitality Scotland, said: “A Visitor Levy in Edinburgh will bring huge changes to the city, its visitors and the accommodation businesses.”
“It will also impact the capital’s competitiveness as a destination for tourists.”
“Accommodation businesses are undoubtedly going to face significant burdens and additional cost as they implement new systems to deal with the levy”.
The organization is seeking a delay of the date at which businesses have to start collecting levy funds to at least October this year.
“Asking already stretched businesses to begin collecting funds in May, just three months’ time, when the scheme will only be finalised this week, just isn’t feasible for many.”
“I hope the Council will once again act on concerns from businesses in this final vote, as well as from the wider sector who would like to see more of the money raised from the levy used to boost the visitor economy.”
