Strong case to give Fife Council tourist tax powers, says MSP

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell has backed calls for a Fife visitor tax.

The Mid Scotland said Fife Council should be given the power to introduce a version of the levy in order to capitalise on its position as one of the country’s top destinations for tourists.

It comes after the local government body COSLA called for greater financial powers, including a visitor tax option, to help Scottish councils fund local services and support local economies.

Mr Ruskell said: “Fife attracts many thousands of tourists each year. By levying a small charge the council could raise substantial funds for improvements to infrastructure in the area, benefiting both locals and visitors.”

Fife Council currently has no plans to introduce such a levy.

However, Mr Ruskell said he was pleased to see Scotland’s councils pushing hard for a debate on broadening the local tax base.

“For far, far too long Scottish ministers have resisted giving local government the kind of fiscal autonomy that those same ministers have argued successfully be given to Holyrood,” he said.

“Greens have long argued that the case for a visitor tax is strong alongside other fiscal powers to widen the tax base.

“It is time for Scotland to become a normal European country with normal local government instead of the hugely centralised and minimalist system we have which is at odds with the situation in virtually every other European country.

“Perhaps with a new local government secretary in the cabinet we can hope for some fresh thinking in this important area.”