51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council will soon be inviting communities and businesses in the area for their views on the possible introduction of a visitor levy.
At a special council meeting today (Thursday) councillors agreed to set up a Short Life Working Group to explore the proposals and present their findings to the council in November, following which a public consultation will take place.
Backed by MSPs, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill enables local authorities to apply a levy on overnight stays with all money raised to be reinvested in services and facilities that can be accessed or used by tourists and business visitors.
Similar levies are already in place in major tourist destinations across Europe, including Amsterdam and Berlin.
Any council planning to introduce a levy will be able to do so following consultation with local communities, businesses and tourism organisations.
An 18-month implementation period will then apply before the scheme can be begin to provide adequate time for the council and businesses to put in place the back office systems needed to collect and administer the levy. The earliest a visitor levy could come into force would be autumn 2026.
Council Leader Jim Lynch, said: “Our tourism sector plays a key role in sustaining and developing 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute’s economy and our leisure and business visitors are a vital part of the area’s future success.
“Alongside the ongoing investment which we are already making in our tourism industry, a visitor levy could see further funding directed into our local services and I would urge people across the region to deliver their views when the consultation is launched.â€
The Bill will include an exemption from paying a visitor levy for people in receipt of disability benefits from the UK or Scottish Governments as well as enabling Ministers to cap the number of nights to which a visitor levy would apply.