DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY TOURIST TAX CANCELLED

Dumfries and Galloway Concil voted against taking forward plans for a potential Tourism Tax across the region today. 

Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers, said

“The ASSC is delighted that Dumfries and Galloway Council has decided to vote down plans to introduce a potential visitor levy in the region. This is a victory for common sense, and just reward for our concerted efforts to prevent yet another untested tax on tourists and locals trying to sustain and grow their businesses.

“We can only hope that other regions of Scotland follow suit and reject this misleading ‘tourist tax’, and help us keep Scotland as both a welcoming destination and a place where businesses can flourish without the burden of additional and unnecessary red tape.”

Commenting on news that the Visitor Levy plan has been dropped following pressure from local  MPs, MSPs and Councillors in Dumfries and Galloway, Craig Hoy MSP said: “Our tourism and hospitality sector face unprecedented pressures and it beggars belief that the SNP and other Dumfries and Galloway councillors were willing to continue with this damaging tax on visitors. The sector needs concerted support, not a further cost pressure which would reduce visitor numbers and damage the tourist economy. I have spoken out against this SNP-levy from the outset and urge the SNP council administration to permanently shelve plans for a visitor levy.”

Craig Hoy, MSP from Dumfriesshire, joined forces with local MP David Mundell last year when they hosted a roundtable to explore the negative impact the levy would have had on local businesses and the local economy.

Modre updates on this story to follow