By Stuart Gillespie

Copyright dailyrecord

Tourism leaders hope plans for a visitor levy in Dumfries and Galloway are “kicked into the long grass”. Councillors have agreed to hold a consultation into the introduction a tourist tax, where people coming to the region pay an extra fee on top of their accommodation prices. But Chris Walker, who runs the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright, fears it will be bad news for both businesses and visitors. He said: “Businesses are struggling enough at the minute. “The council should probably be looking at it’s rates rather than hitting the tourists with a rate. The rating system is wrong, we all know that. “If they’re trying to get more money in they should revaluate how people are charged on business rates rather than give them another layer of financial bureaucracy to manage a system to generate an income. “It won’t be good for the visitor to have another charge. I hope it’ll be kicked into the long grass.” Mr Walker is one of a number of members of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance who has raised the matter with the tourism body’s chief executive David Hope-Jones OBE. Mr Hope-Jones said: “The SSDA does not support the introduction of a visitor levy in Dumfries and Galloway at this time, given the many challenges businesses are facing to survive. “There have been huge increases in costs for visitor economy businesses, including in National Insurance, the National Living Wage, and energy alongside reduced consumer spending power due to inflation and cost-of-living pressures. “We recognise the urgent need for increased investment to support the visitor economy but we do not think a levy is the answer at this time.” The CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers, Fiona Campbell MBE, also isn’t convinced it’s the way forward. She said: “The ASSC recognises the importance of sustainable tourism in Dumfries and Galloway but we implore the council to proceed with caution. “Dumfries and Galloway’s visitor economy is built upon small operators who are already navigating a challenging regulatory environment and rising costs. “The imposition of a tourist tax risks placing additional burdens on responsible, homegrown businesses that are vital to the region’s economic and cultural fabric. “This decision is far too important to get wrong. Self-catering alone delivers a £32 million annual boost to the local economy and supports more than 1,000 jobs according to a recent analysis by BiGGAR Economics. “While some areas, such as Edinburgh, have pressed ahead at pace – risking reputational harm and undermining competitiveness – others, like South Ayrshire and the Western Isles, are rightly opting to delay implementation to allow for a more considered approach. “We therefore urge Dumfries and Galloway to tread carefully, listening to the voice of business who will ultimately be responsible for administering this scheme. If taken forward, it needs to be right from the very outset and they must be open about who will be charged – it won’t just be foreign visitors but ordinary Scots staying in the area.” “The ASSC continues to call for meaningful and ongoing engagement with industry, to ensure that any proposed levy is workable in practice, sensitive to rural realities, and does not undermine the very sector it seeks to support.” Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. Members of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee recently voted 12-4 in favour of holding a consultation into the idea of a visitor levy. Committee chairman, Councillor Andy Ferguson, said: “Tourism is vital to our region’s economy. A visitor levy could provide a sustainable way to invest in the services and infrastructure that make Dumfries and Galloway a top destination, while also supporting our local communities.” If a tourist tax is introduced, it wouldn’t be implemented until 2028 at the earliest. Committee vice chairman, Councillor Tony Berretti, added: “Through the engagement process, we want to hear from everyone – residents, businesses, and visitors – about how a visitor levy could work for Dumfries and Galloway. “This is about building a better future for tourism in our region.”