Tourist Tax Consultation in Scotland announced by First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon has announced a consultation will be held into a tourist tax, the Scottish Tourism Alliance has said.

The First Minister is said to have made the announcement during a speech at the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) annual conference in Edinburgh.

The STA tweeted that the First Minister had announced an “objective consultation, as STA requested, into a tourism tax”.

The move comes as the Scottish Government's opposition to tourism tax appears to be softening.

Current government policy does not support a tax, at odds with the SNP leader of Edinburgh City Council Adam McVey, who has been at the head of plans to make tourists pay to boost public services.

His administration has put forward proposals for £2-a-night tourist tax in Edinburgh, which is projected to raise around £11 million a year.

Facing criticism from Labour on her government's tourist tax opposition, Ms Sturgeon said previously the issue would be under consideration ahead of the budget.

She said the government would listen to voices from all sides of the debate on the issue, including criticism from parts of the tourism industry, before making a decision.