Call for Edinburgh residents to get discounted festival tickets
The Tories said those living in the capital should receive what they described as a “festival dividend”.
Edinburgh residents should be offered discounted tickets for the city's international festival and fringe, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
The Tories said those living in the capital should receive what they described as a "festival dividend'' to compensate for increased disruption caused by hoards of visitors.
Edinburgh's population is estimated to swell to around one million during August as people from around the world flock to the arts festival and its fringe events.
Fringe organisers reported another record-breaking ticket haul this year, with 2.8 million free and paid-for being issued.
While some venues already offer reduced-price tickets to residents on providing proof of address, the Tories called for this scheme to be extended to cover the entire Edinburgh International Festival and fringe.
Tory MSP for the Lothians Miles Briggs said: "It's great news that the fringe and festival continue to go from strength to strength and put Edinburgh and Scotland on the map as home to one of the world's best spectacles.
"It's getting bigger and better, and people who live in the city are pleased to see that continue.
"However, there's no question that - as more people flock to the city - the level of inconvenience and hassle increases for those who live and work here.
"It's important we retain the goodwill of residents, and one way of doing that would be to offer discounted tickets across the board to those who can prove they live here - almost like a festival dividend.
"I have written to both festivals to see if they will consider putting this in place for next year.
"The success of these events is commendable. And while they continue to grow, it's important we examine the opportunities and challenges they pose to people and businesses.''
A spokeswoman for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: "Over the past few years, the Fringe Society and venues across the city have taken a number of measures to make the Fringe as affordable as possible for locals and visitors alike.
"In addition to the 697 free shows, 260 pay what you want shows and 1,200 street events taking place this year on the Fringe, the Society have worked with 29 community groups across Edinburgh to distribute £50,000 of Fringe ticket and transport vouchers to those that have never experienced the Fringe before; artists have provided thousands of free tickets for young people in the Edinburgh care system and offered 2for1 tickets on the first Monday and Tuesday of the Fringe and through our Half Price Hut; and the venue network have organised a number of Edinburgh-specific discounts for residents.
"The Fringe contributes £144 million to the Edinburgh economy each year and we are always exploring new and innovative ways of offering our audiences value for money.
"We would be happy to meet with Miles Briggs to discuss this in more detail at his earliest convenience."