An SNP MSP has called on the Scottish Government to hold a consultation on the proposed introduction of a “tourist tax” in the Highlands.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross representative Gail Ross revealed she had written to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay about the proposal.
The Scottish Government has stated it has no plans to give councils the power to hit tourists with a “transient visitor levy”, despite it being common in many other European states.
Many business leaders have reacted with alarm to the proposal, with one recent Federation of Small Businesses survey showing 73% of firms in the Highlands were opposed to the move.
But councils in Highland, Aberdeen and Edinburgh have been lobbying for the powers, and joined forces while giving evidence to a Holyrood committee this week.
The row has been intensified in the Highlands by the pressure at tourism hotspots on Skye and around the North Coast 500 driving route, as well as an ongoing controversy over a council review of the future of 29 of the 96 public toilets in the region.
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban told the Scottish Parliament’s tourism committee on Thursday that a £1-a-night levy could pave the way for a £120million capital spending spree on roads, car parks and toilets in the region.
Yesterday, Ms Ross said it should be the subject of a national review.
She added: “There has been a lot of talk in the past few years about the introduction of a tourist tax in the Highlands.
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“As we see more and more tourists flocking to the area, I think now is the time to have a serious conversation about this.
“I am neither for nor against the idea at the moment, but I feel there is too much confusion over what it means, who would pay it, how much it would bring in and what it would pay for.
“We need a meaningful conversation in order to get a wide range of views. This can only really be done at a national level as I know other local authorities are also considering it.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have no plans to introduce visitor levy on the tourism sector.
“We continue to deliver a fair deal to councils across Scotland, with revenue and capital funding increasing in real terms over the next financial year.
“In partnership with Cosla, our Local Governance Review is now engaging widely on strengthening local decision-making and how public services work together to drive growth – and where we would welcome further discussion about revenue raising powers.”
