Elected Member Briefing - Launch of consultation on Perth and Kinross Visitor Levy

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Serge Merone, Strategic Lead, Economy, Development & Planning

Date: 2nd June 2025

Subject: Launch of consultation on Perth and Kinross Visitor Levy

Purpose

The purpose of this briefing is to provide information on a public consultation being held on proposals to introduce a Visitor Levy in Perth and Kinross.

Briefing Information

Background

In May 2024, the Scottish Parliament passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act. This Act gives local authorities the ability to charge a set percentage on overnight accommodation paid by visitors to an area. 

In February 2025, Perth & Kinross Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee agreed to start a period of public consultation after the launch of the Perth and Kinross Tourism Strategy & Action Plan 2025-2030 to understand whether and how a Visitor Levy should be implemented in the area.  

The Act states that money raised should be reinvested locally on facilities and services that are used by, or substantially for, leisure and business visitors (apart from a small amount reclaimed by the Council to cover the costs of administering the scheme).

This includes infrastructure, events and culture, as well as improvements to destinations that enhance the visitor experience. Because residents and visitors use many of the same things, the Visitor Levy has the potential to improve life for residents as well as visitors.

The money raised from a potential Visitor Levy scheme would be reinvested in the following key areas:

• Facilities, infrastructure and services that are used by leisure and business visitors
• Area promotion & marketing
• Development of new tourism products
• Attracting events and festivals
• Improvements that enhance the overall Perth and Kinross visitor experience

Tourism in Perth and Kinross

The visitor economy is one of the most important sectors in Perth and Kinross, supporting businesses, jobs and communities across the area.

This is reflected in our Perth and Kinross Economic Action Plan and the Tay Cities Regional Prospectus for Growth.

It is also one of the key action areas under the Council's Corporate Plan priority of 'developing a resilient, stronger, and greener local economy', where we commit to promoting what our city and towns have to offer to businesses, investors and tourists.

Nationally, the visitor economy is also one of the Scottish Government's six key growth sectors.

What the visitor economy sector in Perth and Kinross looks like:

• 2.3 million visits to Perth and Kinross in 2023.
• 2.8 nights - average length of stay.
• Total economic impact of £641 million for local businesses and communities.
• 8,200 full time equivalent jobs supported.

There are community costs to supporting visitors to our area. This has previously been recognised by Council through investment in the Visitor Ranger Scheme to promote responsible tourism and provide support and guidance to visitors to help minimise the impact visitors to popular parts of Perth and Kinross can have on year-round residents. The Visitor Levy could provide an opportunity to offset these costs and invest in the visitor economy sector.

With growing demands for critical services, we have a duty to look at any opportunities for additional sources of income which can be invested to support growing our visitor economy. That would then allow core funding to be focused on the services which are needed by the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Visitor Levy Consultation

The early engagement public consultation launched on Monday 2 June, and will run until September 30 2025.

The consultation is available on the Council's Consultation Hub, and paper copies are available upon request by calling 01738 476476.

It asks people their opinion on the general principle of a Visitor Levy, as well as things like what rate it should be set at, the geographical area it should cover, how it should be administered and any exemptions that people think should be made.

A series of local drop-in events for members of the public and other stakeholders will also be held across Perth and Kinross to support the consultation:

12 June 2025 - Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth,4pm - 7pm

19 June 2025 - Birnam Arts, Birnam, 4pm - 7pm

24 June 2025 - Blairgowrie Town Hall, 4pm - 7pm

26 June 2025 - Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 4pm - 7pm

21 August 2025 - Strathearn Arts, Crieff, 4-7pm

27 August 2025 - Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross, 4pm - 7pm

The results of this early-stage engagement will help shape what (if any) a visitor levy would look like.

Communications

A Communications and Engagement Plan has been developed for the project. Communications will be issued through social media, eric, email bulletins, newsletters and the local media to encourage people to take part in the consultation.

Information will also be issued to key stakeholders signposting them to the consultation.

Next steps

It is intended that any resulting 'scheme' will be put to full Council in December 2025 for a final decision on whether to introduce a levy and at what rate it should be set.

If Elected Members agree to implement a Visitor Levy, the earliest it could be implemented is Autumn 2027.