There are discussions about implementing a voluntary bed tax in the Scottish capital. A mandatory bed tax has been ruled out but it is believed that if you ask in the right way and reassure visitors that the money raised will be spent on environmental and cultural initiatives some visitors will be happy to contribute. It is esimated that around three million pounds could be raised based a contribution of £1 per visitor.

I am not sure how accommodation suppliers would feel about being the ones to collect the donation, it’s got to involve more work for them. I have the feeling that a sneaky way to get the donation would be that a suggested donation was included in the price and you had to opt out of paying. I don’t think that it is a good idea, a bed tax proposal was recently withdrawn in Venice. Visitors pay VAT on all their accommodation, meals and purchases and I think that in a very competitive travel market, Edinburgh could just be shooting itself in the foot. What do you think?

tags: voluntary, bed-tax, tax, taxation, edingurgh, scotland, UK, united-kingdom, travel, hospitality, hotels, resorts