Writing in the Edinburgh Evening News (16 February), Council Leader Jane Meagher sets out the many benefits the visitor levy will bring to Edinburgh, its residents and visitors.
We’re rightly proud that so many people want to visit and enjoy our historic and beautiful city – and of the significant benefit that tourism brings to our economy.
But with that popularity comes a cost: the pressure it places on our services and on the people who live and work here all year round.
We’ve long been aware of our responsibility to manage this pressure but, as the lowest funded local authority in Scotland, we had to find other ways of funding this.
I was delighted then that, having secured the powers to introduce a visitor levy for Edinburgh, we’ve now agreed the first round of spending programmes. This investment of nearly £100 million over the next three years will allow us to sustain and enhance our reputation as one of the most popular and enjoyable destinations in the world.
As the first local authority in the UK to push ahead with a city-wide scheme, I know that other councils across the UK – together with the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish governments – are watching closely as they seek to develop similar schemes of their own. They should be encouraged by what they’re seeing.
Thanks to the funds generated from the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, as we now know it, we can transform our city into a cleaner, greener and more welcoming environment. We can invest more in our award-winning parks and greenspaces, doubling the number of park rangers and funding extra planting across the city.
We can help to put more police on our streets while new public toilets, upgraded bins and extra patrols will help to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to the high standard our residents and visitors expect.
We can also renew and restore attractions across Edinburgh, including bringing much-loved cultural venues like the Royal High School and Leith Theatre back into use for the first time in decades.
We’ve listened to and taken account of the views of residents, the tourism industry and other stakeholders at every stage of the process – and I'm grateful to the many Council officers, Visitor Levy Advisory Forum members, businesses and residents for their valuable contributions and support.
This is just the beginning. As the scheme develops, we’ll continue to involve communities in spending decisions in their local areas - and the Forum will continue to help ensure the views of the city are taken into account over the next three years and beyond.
I’m sure, like me, they’re looking forward to seeing the many benefits the levy will bring to our city, our residents and our visitors.