Most visitors would still come to Edinburgh despite a tourist tax
More than 500 tourists were questioned in research commissioned by Marketing Edinburgh.
Most visitors to Edinburgh say a tourist tax on accommodation would not have stopped them coming to the city.
A detailed survey suggests that 92% of tourists would still have made the trip if the charge was set at £1 a night.
This drops to 78% when the nightly levy is set at £4.
The independent research was commission by Marketing Edinburgh.
A total of 561 overnight visitors were questioned during the summer including 10% from Scotland, 35% from the rest of the UK and 56% from overseas.
The survey also questioned 519 Edinburgh residents with 59% saying they support the 'transient visitor levy'.
The results suggest both tourists and residents would prefer a tax on accommodation rather than taxis and restaurants.
Marketing Edinburgh's Chief Executive, John Donnelly said, "We need to find a solution that enables sustainable investment in Edinburgh’s growing tourism industry while supporting the council to manage the consequences of that success.
"Transient Visitor Levies are used widely throughout the world and to great effect, raising significant amounts of money, so it’s important that we put this option on the table.
The research was revealed as the leaders of local councils in Edinburgh, the Highlands and Aberdeen took their bid for a tourist tax to MSPs.
They are all asking for the power to raise money with a nightly levy on accommodation.
Holyrood’s Culture and Tourism committee’s started to take evidence on the charge which the Scottish Government has so far refused to back.
The Leader of Edinburgh Council, Adam McVey said the money would help the city cope with the increasing pressures of rising visitor numbers
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