Friday July 3rd 2026
Tantallon Castle, North Berwick, is one of East Lothian's top ten most visited attractions
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A public consultation on plans to introduce an additional five per cent tax on the price of overnight stays in East Lothian has been launched.
The proposed Visitors Levy would see operators of guest accommodation pay the tourist tax to East Lothian Council with claims it could bring in up to £1.2million in revenue which could be used to improve facilities for both visitors and residents.
The consultation has been launched after it was approved by councillors at a meeting last week and will run until September.
Under the draft plans people staying in hotels, hostels, short term lets and caravans would be asked to pay an addition five per cent per night.
Accommodation operators will be expected to take the additional fee and pass it to the council as well as keeping records of everyone who stays with them and submitting them. They will also be allowed to claim reimbursement for the costs of overseeing the payments.
Properties used by charities or providing accommodation for charitable events will be exempted from the scheme which could be in place by the summer of 2028 if approved.
During last week’s East Lothian Council meeting Provost John McMillan , cabinet economic spokesperson, he had looked at similar schemes in France when on holiday in the past and believed the one being proposed for the county was
He said: “I think what we have got is well researched and developed and is worthy going out to consultation.
“I want to see an open informed discussion about what the benefits might be.”
Councillor McMillan pointed to the benefits having The Open at Muirfield a few years ago had on local golf clubs which he said were booked up the following year after televised coverage was shown around the world pointing to the council resources required to host the event.
And council leader Norman Hampshire backed the proposed tax telling the meeting: “Wherever you go in the world you are going to have to pay this type of levy, and that levy is used to provide the infrastructure you are going to use when there.”
Councillor Jeremy Findlay said there was mixed levels of support for the levy in the North Berwick Coastal ward he represents and would wait to see what the consultation brought back adding “the devil will be in the detail.”
He urged the council to ensure the views of small operators were taken into account following the consultation.
Legislation introduced by the Scottish Government two years ago gives local authorities to power to introduce a visitors levy. Edinburgh is set to become the first place to introduce it next month and have agreed the five per cent rate.
The East Lothian plan also includes establishing a Visitors Levy Forum made up of representatives from the community, businesses and tourism, who would have a say on where funds from the new charges will be used.
The consultation can be found here.
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