Visitors to Edinburgh will be charged a tourist tax designed to raise £50m annually, after city councillors voted in favour of the move. The charge, which mimics those already used in Germany, Spain and Italy,

Local politicians in Edinburgh have approved a tourist tax for visitors staying overnight the Scottish capital, introducing the first charge of its kind in the United Kingdom.

A five per cent charge will be levied on hotels, B&Bs, campsites and accommodation let through websites such as Airbnb

Edinburgh councillors are to vote for Scotland’s first visitor levy designed to raise £50m annually for the authority. The final proposals for the scheme, taking account the findings of the 12-week public consultation, were presented by officers at a special meeting of the Policy & Sustainability Committee last Friday (January 17).

Edinburgh councillors have approved a visitor levy, or tourist tax, but have agreed to extend the deadline for applying it to bookings.

Edinburgh has become the first council in Scotland to approve a visitor levy. Councillors voted in favour of introducing the measure, which will see a charge introduced on those staying in overnight accommodation throughout the capital, at a special meeting on Friday.