Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses across the city to take part in Dundee City Council’s statutory consultation on a proposed Visitor Levy. The evidence and practical experience businesses provide now could directly influence whether a levy is introduced and, if it is, how the scheme is designed and delivered.
The 12-week consultation is open until 27 November 2026. It is an important opportunity for accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, visitor attractions, retailers, event organisers, transport operators and every business connected to Dundee’s wider visitor economy to make its voice heard.
What is being proposed?
A Visitor Levy would add a charge to paid overnight stays in accommodation such as hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, hostels, self-catering properties and short-term lets. The consultation asks for views on two possible models:
- 5% of the accommodation cost per night; or
- £5 per room per night.
Under both options, the charge would be capped at seven nights. If introduced, income raised would be retained in Dundee and could support areas such as the public realm, visitor information and signage, cultural events and festivals, business and conference tourism, destination marketing and other services substantially used by visitors.
Why your feedback matters
Dundee’s visitor economy supports businesses and jobs across accommodation, hospitality, retail, culture, events and transport. A levy could create a significant new source of investment for the city, but it could also affect pricing, competitiveness, customer behaviour and the day-to-day administration undertaken by accommodation providers.
That is why informed business feedback is essential. The Council needs to understand not only whether businesses support or oppose the principle of a levy, but also the practical consequences of the proposed rate, collection arrangements, exemptions, administration and use of the proceeds. Silence leaves those decisions to others; a clear, evidence-based response gives the business community the best opportunity to shape a workable outcome.
Your feedback will be reported to elected members and will help inform whether the Council proceeds, which model it may choose and how any future scheme would operate.
Join a consultation session
Businesses can discuss the proposals, ask questions and share their views at a series of in-person sessions at Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce’s offices, alongside online sessions for those who cannot attend in person.
View the consultation sessions and book your place.
The online survey takes around 10 minutes and asks for views on the two proposed approaches, exemptions and how the proceeds should be used. Respondents can also say that they do not believe a levy should be introduced.
Complete the Dundee Visitor Levy consultation survey by 27 November 2026.
Make the business voice count
Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages every affected business to engage with the detail, attend a session and submit a response. Please share the consultation with colleagues and contacts across the city’s visitor economy, and include specific examples, costs, operational concerns and ideas for investment wherever possible.
This is the moment to influence the final proposal. Make sure Dundee’s decision-makers hear directly from the businesses that will help deliver - and be affected by - any future Visitor Levy.
Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce
As the leading business membership organisation in Dundee & Angus and part of the worldwide long-established Chamber of Commerce brand, we help local businesses to connect, communicate and develop for business benefit.
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%.
