Visitor Levy - Pre-consultation survey

Overview

Argyll and Bute Council is developing a visitor levy (VL) to support tourism as a sustainable beneficial part of Argyll and Bute community life and economy. We want to hear your views to help us shape our draft VL Scheme and formal consultation survey.

Councils in Scotland have new powers to introduce a visitor levy in their local area. These powers come from new laws in the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.

Many places around the world already have visitor levies. These include Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, New York, Kyoto and Dubai. If Argyll and Bute introduces such a levy, which at the earliest will be the autumn of 2026, the money raised must be used specifically for the benefit of the visitor economy, such as towards making local facilities and services better. Local culture, events and festivals could also benefit.

What is a visitor levy?

A visitor levy is a payment based on the cost of most types of paid, overnight accommodation. Most people paying to stay for an overnight visit to Argyll and Bute will have to pay the levy (exemptions are noted in the Act).

For FAQs see: https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/visitor-levy#faq and https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-community/recreation-and-leisure/argyll-and-bute-visitor-levy

What’s next?

The results of this consultation will help shape the draft Argyll and Bute Visitor Levy Scheme.

In addition, a series of workshop sessions for businesses will be arranged towards the end of October 2024 to provide some initial awareness raising and discussions on the visitor levy. Further information will be provided in due course.

You (residents, businesses and visitors) will have another opportunity to give your views on the draft scheme when we run the formal 12-week consultation from late November 2024 to February 2025.

This survey will close on Monday 28th October 2024 at 5pm.
The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete.

1. What is your connection with Argyll and Bute? (please select all that apply) *

I'm an Argyll and Bute resident
I'm a visitor to Argyll and Bute from the UK
I'm a visitor to Argyll and Bute from overseas (non-UK resident)
I run a business in Argyll and Bute
I invest in Argyll and Bute, but I don't live in Argyll and Bute
I work in Argyll and Bute, but I don't live there
I have never been to Argyll and Bute
Other (please specify):

2. What attracts you to Argyll and Bute? (please select top 3 reasons) *

3. If you are a visitor to Argyll and Bute, what type of accommodation are you staying in? (for residents and businesses go to Q5).

4. If you are a visitor to Argyll and Bute, how would you describe the accommodation you're staying in? (for residents and businesses go to Q5)

5. How aware are you of what a visitor levy is?

Very aware - I know a lot about it
Quite aware - I know a little about it
Not aware - I have never heard of it
Unsure

6. Do you think there should be a cap on the number of nights that a visitor should pay their levy on in Argyll and Bute? *

Yes
No
Don't Know
Other (please specify):

7. Do you think the Visitor Levy for Argyll and Bute should apply at the same level, all year round? *

Yes
No
Unsure

8. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act stipulates that the net proceeds of a visitor levy must be spent on developing, supporting and sustaining facilities and services which are substantially for or used by persons visiting (overnight) for leisure or business purposes and used by residents. What would you like to see the levy net proceeds spent on? *

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Your thoughts and views are gratefully received.