THE main lobby group for the Scottish tourism industry has called on the City of Edinburgh Council to scrap its plans for a tourist tax.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance has raised concern over what it claims is the “biased nature” of the council’s consultation for a Transient Visitor Levy/ Tourist Tax (TVL) to be applied in the city.

In a letter to council leader Adam McVey and chief executive Andrew Kerr, the alliance and UK Hospitality claim the consultation document presents no opportunity for those who are against the TVL to register their opposition. It says this deficiency “fundamentally” undermines the consultation, which they say has “little or no support” from Edinburgh’s tourism sector.

The council formally launched its consultation on a proposed TVL, or tourist tax, on September 28. It proposes a supplementary tourist tax of either two per cent of a room rate or £2 per room per night. It would be charged all year round on all forms of accommodation but capped at seven nights.

The council said it would use the funds raised to “invest in and manage the consequences of the future success of tourism within the city”. It has previously been suggested such funds could be invested in

facilities such as public toilets and other public infrastructure.

In their letter, the tourism groups claim the council has made no effort to explain the impact of the high rate of VAT on the appeal of Scottish tourism.