A 12-week statutory consultation on a potential visitor levy for Dundee starts today (Monday August 31).
The two visitor levy options which are now out for feedback involve either a flat rate of £5 per room per night or a levy based on 5% of the nightly room rate, both with a cap of 7 nights.
It is estimated each could raise over £2 million a year if introduced.
Launch of the consultation follows approval of a report by councillors earlier this year. This explained that tourism plays an increasingly important role in Dundee’s economy, with more than1.4 million visitors in 2024, including over 600,000 overnight stays.
Levy funds could help enhance the visitor experience through improvements to the public realm as well as visitor information and signage.
Income could also be invested in cultural events and festivals as well as business and convention tourism and destination marketing.
Following the consultation, a further report would be considered later this year before any decision about introducing a levy is taken. If it is agreed, a levy would not be introduced until the summer of 2028.
City Growth and Infrastructure Committee convener Cllr Steven Rome said: “Dundee’s tourism industry is an important contributor to our local economy, supporting a range of jobs and businesses.
“The introduction of a visitor levy has the potential to raise millions of pounds to bolster the visitor experience in Dundee, as we have seen being applied in other countries.
“However, we need to carefully consider the views of everyone who expresses an opinion about these matters and that is why this consultation is so important.
“I would encourage anyone with a view on these matters to get involved.”
The consultation runs until November 27.
You can take part in the consultation and find out more details on the council’s website here
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
