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Visitor Levy - weekly updates

We will be providing you with weekly updates to keep you informed about the visitor levy consultation process. You can find these below. (latest update 20 February 2025).

20 February 2025

Thanks to everyone who has already given us their views in the consultation survey. Here are some questions we’ve been asked this week:

  • If a visitor levy is introduced would there be any exemptions?
  • What else does the survey ask?
  • What will happen when the consultation closes?
  • How can I give my views?

Find the answers to these and many more on our visitor levy questions and answers page. Further information is also available on the council website.

Next week’s information events

We are hosting an online event on Monday 24 February 2025 from 5.30pm-6.30pm. Please note that tickets are required for the online events. These are available on the .

13 February 2025

Thank you to everyone who came to the Oban information event and gave us their time and their views. We really appreciate it.

Some recurring questions we received included:

  • Why call it a visitor levy?
  • Why could the levy not be a flat rate?
  • Would the levy be included in business turnover for VAT purposes?
  • What about administrative costs and other impacts on accommodation providers?
  • Would residents have to pay a visitor levy?
  • If a visitor levy is introduced, what would the money be spent on?

Find the answers to these and many more on our visitor levy questions and answers page. Further information is also available on the council website.

Upcoming visitor levy information events – UPDATED 

More visitor levy events are happening across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, including an additional event in Lochgilphead. Please come along to find out more information and get involved. 

*Please note the new times for the Mull event due to technical issues with the ferry.

  • Friday 21 February – MULL â€“ Craignure Village Hall - 12.30pm-4pm. *UPDATED TIME DUE TO FERRY TECHNICAL ISSUES*
  • Monday 24 February – ONLINE WEBINAR â€“ 5.30pm-6.30pm.
  • Wednesday 5 March – ISLAY â€“ Islay Gaelic Centre - 3pm-6pm.
  • Thursday 6 March – ONLINE WEBINAR â€“ 10am-11am.
  • Monday 10 March – ROTHESAY â€“ Rothesay Academy - 4.30pm-7pm.
  • Monday 17 March – CAMPBELTOWN â€“ Kintyre Community Centre - 4pm-7pm.
  • Thursday 20 March – HELENSBURGH â€“ Victoria Halls - 4pm-7pm.
  • Monday 24 March – INVERARAY â€“ Inveraray Inn - 4pm-7pm.
  • Tuesday 25 March – ONLINE WEBINAR â€“ 5.30pm-6.30pm.
  • Friday 28 March – DUNOON â€“ Queen’s Hall - 4pm-7pm.
  • Tuesday 1 April - LOCHGILPHEAD - Kilmory Council Chambers - 4pm-7pm. *EXTRA EVENT ADDED*
  • Thursday 3 April – ONLINE WEBINAR â€“ 9am-10am.

Online information webinars

You will need to book a space if you would like to attend the online information webinars. Tckets are available on the .

7 February 2025

Questions we’ve been asked this week include:

  • Can we reply to the consultation survey as a group?
  • Can the council not consider a flat rate instead of a percentage?
  • Where can I find out more about the potential effects of a visitor levy?
  • How did you reach the estimates for the amount a levy could raise?

Find the answers to these and many more on our visitor levy questions and answers page.

Don’t forget!

We're hosting the first in a series of visitor levy information events in Oban on Monday (10 February). A visitor levy involves everyone so come along to find out more and get involved in assessing one for the area. The event will take place in The Corran Halls, from 4pm-7pm. For details of other events visit

Online information webinars

Tickets for our online information webinars will be available on the from Monday 10 February 2025.

31 January 2025

A visitor levy involves everyone, so we're hosting a series of drop-in information events and online webinars to help people in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute find out more and get involved in assessing one for the area.

The online webinars will last one hour. To attend these events you will need to book a space in advance. Booking for the online webinars will open on Monday 10 February. Links to book tickets for these will be available on the council website. There will be no requirement to book for the drop-in events.

The events will take place as follows (in order of date): 

  • Monday 10 February – OBAN – Corran Halls - 4pm-7pm.
  • Friday 21 February – MULL â€“ Craignure Village Hall - 3pm-6pm.
  • Monday 24 February – ONLINE WEBINAR – 5.30pm-6.30pm.
  • Wednesday 5 March – ISLAY – Islay Gaelic Centre - 3pm-6pm.
  • Thursday 6 March – ONLINE WEBINAR – 10am-11am.
  • Monday 10 March – ROTHESAY – Rothesay Academy - 4.30pm-7pm.
  • Monday 17 March – CAMPBELTOWN – Kintyre Community Centre - 4pm-7pm.
  • Thursday 20 March – HELENSBURGH – Victoria Halls - 4pm-7pm.
  • Monday 24 March – INVERARAY – Inveraray Inn - 4pm-7pm.
  • Tuesday 25 March – ONLINE WEBINAR – 5.30pm-6.30pm.
  • Friday 28 March – DUNOON – Queen’s Hall - 4pm-7pm.
  • Thursday 3 April – ONLINE WEBINAR – 9am-10am.

23 January 2025

  • One of the questions we've been asked is why are we putting this to consultation? 

    Councils and communities across Scotland are considering a visitor levy for their area and we want you to have the same chance to consider one for here. ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute attracts 2.7 million visitors each year – that’s 30 times the number of people who live here. Visitors use many of the same services as residents, such as roads, car parks, public toilets, waste, public transport and events services. Council funding for services is 80% government funding and 20% council tax. Even with increased council tax, councils have less to spend on public services, for example, because of more costs and demands.

    A visitor levy would add to government funding, and council tax from residents, for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute. It would be spent on services and infrastructure needed by visitors. Many of these are shared with residents and not a duty of a council to deliver. Please find out why it matters to you and take the chance to give your views in our visitor levy consultation by 10 April 2025. We need your feedback to ensure the best decisions for our community. Thank you.

  • We have also been asked what is the process after the consultation closes on 10 April.

    The formal public consultation will close on Thursday 10 April 2025. After this time we will analyse the results and publish a consultation report. IF a Visitor Levy Scheme is introduced across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute there will be an 18-month implementation period with operational guidance and support to accommodation providers, with input and advice from a Visitor Levy Forum. The earliest a Visitor Levy Scheme could be introduced to ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute is early 2027.

  • Public events

    We are finalising the details of a series of public drop-in events and online sessions, and we will announce more information about these next week.

     

Find out more about the visitor levy and take part in the consultation on our webpage.

 

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