Subtlety tax

Cliff Hague of the Cockburn Association is right to support a tourist tax for Edinburgh (Platform, 30 May). But presentation is everything.

Arriving in Athens last week in the wee sma’ hours off a delayed flight from Edinburgh, at the hotel I was presented with an immediate demand to pay €1.50 tourist tax for each of four nights’ stay.

All over the hotel were notices highlighting the existence of the tax.

If Edinburgh goes ahead with a contribution by visitors it should form a small item in the bill they pay on leaving. They will barely notice their contribution to the costs of conserving and developing a historic city. Just don’t ask them at check-in.

WILLIS PICKARD Lockharton Gardens, Edinburgh