Boat moorings are exempt from Visitor Levy proposals
The Scottish Government has agreed to remove boat moorings and berthings from the Visitor Levy bill which could see accommodation providers charging a levy on overnight visitor accommodation.
The bill, which is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament, aims to impose a fee or tax on overnight stays in some types of accommodation. This fee would be charged every time someone stays overnight in accommodation such as a hotel, bed and breakfast or holiday cottage.
The discretionary local council tax, if passed into statute, will be paid to the local authority.
Following the local government, housing and planning committee’s stage 1 report the Scottish government has agreed to remove boat moorings and berthings from the scope of the levy, unless the vessels are permanently moored and used for accommodation.
The amendment to the bill has been welcomed by marine tourism stakeholders.
Chairperson of British Marine Scotland Sarah Kennedy said: “We are immensely pleased that, having listened to our representations, the Scottish Government has accepted our case and now agreed that boat moorings and berthings should not be included in the legislation and will now bring forward an amendment.
“This is a huge relief as, without the amendment, the Visitor Levy would place an excessive burden on mooring providers, which includes many small businesses and voluntary organisations.
“Both the charge and administrative costs would otherwise have to be passed on to boaters irrespective of whether onboard accommodation is ever utilised or is even possible.
“We trust that the Scottish Parliament will support this forthcoming amendment and so help protect Scotland’s world-renowned leisure marine tourism offering.”
The government’s decision to introduce this amendment follows the lead committee’s recommendations and the aligned evidence it received from stakeholders.