The Scottish Highlands are the latest popular holiday destination that may soon be subject to a tourist tax.
In May, members of the Scottish Parliament passed a bill allowing local authorities in Scotland to introduce a tourist tax on tourists staying in their accommodation.
Highland District Council will be the next body to decide what the tourist tax rate will be in the area.
As part of the new digitised system, travellers will need a 'permit' and a fee to visit the UK.
According to visitscotland.org, 794,000 Americans are expected to visit Scotland in 2023.
The Scottish Parliament has passed legislation allowing local authorities to impose a tourist tax if they wish. (Hugh Rooney/I Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Highland Council has “agreed in principle to implement a tourist levy for the Highlands as a means of securing investment in the tourism sector and making the Highlands more resilient and sustainable.”
The Highlands is expected to attract around seven million tourists in 2022, according to the government agency's website.
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According to the Highland Council website, the Highlands are expected to welcome around seven million visitors in 2022. (Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
In his proposed “Sustainable Tourism Strategy”, Councillor Ken Gowans noted the tourism industry had experienced incredible growth.
“However, welcoming such a large number of visitors places a great strain on certain regions and basic infrastructure and services, requiring significant investment and strong coordination,” he said.
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“The opportunities that the visitor tax will allow and that we can all benefit from,” Gowans said. [maximize] We are committed to applying our energy and resources to drive positive change that will protect this growing sector well into the future.”
If implemented, the Highlands would join a growing list of tourist destinations that impose a tax on visitors to curb overtourism. (Hugh Rooney/I Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group, Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A decision is expected this autumn and, if implemented, would see the Highlands join a growing list of destinations imposing a visitor tax to curb overtourism.
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Authorities in Venice, Italy, have launched a pilot program to impose entrance fees on day-trippers in an effort to reduce tourist influxes at peak times, while Greek authorities plan to impose a tax on cruise ship passengers traveling to the island of Mykonos, Fox News Digital reported.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Highland Council for comment.
