Ex-council leader backs hotel tax for Edinburgh

A hotel tax in Edinburgh would boost tourism, create jobs and strengthen the economy, according to former city council leader Donald Anderson.

The idea of a tourist tax – of £1 a night on hotel bills, for example – is controversial, with many in the tourism industry warning it would damage the sector while supporters argue it would bring in muchneeded cash.

The government has said it has no plans for such a tax. But Mr Anderson said it was “a significant gap” in Finance Secretary Derek Mackay’s budget.

Writing in The Scotsman today, Mr Anderson says: “Nobody likes new taxes, but if we want an economy that grows as well for the next 20 years as it has for the last 20, this looks like a good way to achieve that.”