New exemptions, and projects that would be delivered through levy income, will be included in a draft visitor levy scheme for consideration by Council in June.
Healthcare visits by islanders to the mainland (including carers accompanying vulnerable patients to appointments), and outdoor education centres with a focus on young people would be exempt from paying a levy.
These exemptions were agreed at a meeting today of Council, as well as the need to include projects that would be delivered through visitor levy income if a levy was introduced in Argyll and Bute.
The updated draft visitor levy scheme will also take account of changes to national legislation. The Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which is now awaiting Royal Assent, includes a flat rate visitor levy option, as well as the existing option for a levy based on a percentage of accommodation cost. In addition, the proposed per person per night charge option has been removed from the final Bill and replaced by per room / area per night.
The draft visitor levy scheme going to Council for consideration in June will include a recommendation on the proposed funding model.
Proposals for the draft visitor levy scheme are being developed by the Shadow Visitor Levy Forum which includes representatives from the council, Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative; VisitScotland; Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.
Key drivers in developing the exemptions agreed today were keeping administrative requirements on accommodation providers to a minimum and ensuring parity and fairness for all accommodation providers.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said:
“Delivering benefits for the area and its visitor economy is obviously the focus in taking time to develop a revised draft visitor levy scheme. More work needs to be done before the revised draft scheme can come before Council in June for further consideration.”
If Council agreed a draft scheme, public consultation on the draft scheme would be the next step.
