Councillors in Edinburgh have voted in favour of a "tourist tax", which could become the first of its kind in the UK. However, the new tax will not come into effect until the Scottish Parliament has passed enabling legislation, which is unlikely to happen before next year. Edinburgh's transient visitor levy (TVL) proposals include a £2-per-night charge added to the price of any room for the first week of a stay. It would apply to all accommodation, including Airbnb-style short-term lets. The aim is to raise money to pay for the costs of mass tourism in the Scottish capital, which is estimated to attract more than four million visitors every year.It is estimated the tax could raise between £11.6m and £14.6m per year in Edinburgh. Edinburgh would follow in the footsteps of European cities such as Paris and Barcelona, while Bath and Oxford councils have also called for powers to charge visitors.
