Edinburgh council’s leader calls for tourist tax to fund city’s festivals

A levy would help the city to cope with its 4 million annual visitors, politicians and event organisers say

Edinburgh’s council leader has called for a new visitor levy to be introduced urgently to help the city fund its festivals, including this weekend’s loss-making Hogmanay street parties.

Cammy Day, leader of Edinburgh’s Labour administration, said the proposed visitor levy could help the city raise about £25m in extra funding for services and to subsidise tourism infrastructure.