A consultation will be held on a visitor levy for overnight stays in the city. (Image: Getty)
A major UK city is keen to swiftly implement a 5% levy on overnight stays, as business leaders warn against rushing into the measure.
Glasgow City Council has agreed to hold a public consultation on the levy, which would apply to hotels, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs, as well as self-catering accommodation, as per .
Estimates reportedly suggest the tax would bring in £12.5 million to the city each year, with more £11 million to spend on improving the “look and feel” of ‘s largest city, as well as funding events, after running costs are deducted.
Cash would also be spent on “destination marketing” to drive up the number of visitors travelling to the city.
An exact date for the consultation process, during which residents and the accommodation industry will have their say, hasn’t been announced yet.
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George Square in the city centre. (Image: Getty)
However, city treasurer Ricky Bell says he is “very keen that we progress this as fast as we possibly can”, the outlet reports.
After the consultation, a report on the responses would be prepared before the council makes a decision on whether to press ahead with it, in which case an 18-month implementation period would follow.
It comes after the , with a 5% levy set to be imposed July next year.
Visitors staying in the city will have to pay a 5% fee per night, capped at seven nights under the changes.
Council leader Jane Meagher has described the tax as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to invest in the city. It comes after the Scottish Parliament approved legislation allowing councils to introduce such a charge.
But trade bodies have called for a considered approach in Glasgow, urging councillors to ensure the policy, if adopted, is well implemented.
Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of ‘s Self-Caterers, claimed rushed “headlong into introducing a tourist tax”, says other local authorities should “take stock and tread carefully”.
Campbell said the consultation process needs to “listen to the voice of business who will ultimately be responsible for administering this scheme”.
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The city is known for its stunning architecture and vibrant arts scene. (Image: Getty)
“We understand the rationale behind a visitor levy but a badly implemented policy will do more harm than good,” she said, adding: “Our overriding message to councillors is simple: do it right, first time.”
At a meeting of Glasgow’s city administration committee yesterday, Cllr Bell said: “Research by the Scottish Government and University both conclude that at this stage there is no evidence to suggest the introduction of a visitor levy will have an adverse effect on visitor numbers.”
If a scheme is introduced, its impact would be monitored, he said, pointing to anecdotal evidence that shows “most people” who travel to countries with a visitor levy “are not generally put off”, Glagow Live reports.
Addressing what the timescale for the process will be, Cllr Bell said: “I think the plan in front of colleagues today is as fast as we possibly can without tripping ourselves up.
“We only have to look up the road to to see the dangers and the troubles they seem to have got into at a very early stage.”
The City of Council has been approached for comment.
He added Glasgow planned to deliver a levy as “fast as we can but still in consultation with industry colleagues, and trying to take them with us”.
Providers of accommodation providers would be subject to the levy, and would have to submit quarterly reports. However, it’s been proposed that they would retain 1.5% of the tax funds collected at their establishment for the purpose of covering costs.
Cllr Bell said the move was being considered to make the city “more attractive for Glaswegians” and visitors. The consultation will inform exactly how the money generated will be spent.