Tourists visiting Britain could soon be asked to pay local visitor charges as councils consider introducing overnight charges to support services under pressure from overtourism.
The measure follows similar measures in European destinations such as Berlin and Barcelona and is intended to address the challenges associated with record visitor numbers in popular areas.
Nearly half of Scotland’s local councils, including Highland, Orkney and the Western Isles, are exploring a tourist tax. The Highland Council has started consultations on a 5% overnight charge, which could raise £10 million a year to improve infrastructure and facilities. Edinburgh will lead the UK by introducing a mandatory levy in July 2026, which is expected to raise £50 million a year.
In Wales, the government plans to unveil proposals for a visitors levy to fund tourism and local amenities, with a focus on hotspots such as Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire and Cardiff.
Highlighting the need for sustainable tourism, Highland Council economics chairman Ken Gowans said: “The wear and tear is not caused by local people, they pay for it through council tax. Having this money will help us maintain and improve services for both visitors and residents.”
Overtourism has put pressure on destinations such as the fairytale pools of Skye, the North Coast 500 route and the Neolithic sites of Orkney. Travel guide Fodor’s recently placed the North Coast 500 on its ‘No List’ due to its popularity causing tensions, with clogged roads, overwhelmed campsites and environmental concerns.
In the Lake District, a study suggested introducing charges for overnight stays or car use to reduce the environmental burden on the national park, which receives 18 million visitors a year but has only 40,000 residents.
While some industry leaders, including VisitScotland, support the levy as a way to invest in sustainable tourism, others warn it could deter visitors. Critics, including hoteliers in Inveraray, have branded the tax ‘financial suicide’, arguing it could reduce spending and increase administrative burdens.
However, Michael Hill, chief executive of Friends of the Lake District, said similar charges in Europe had improved destinations. “We are not anti-tourism. In many cases, visitor numbers actually increase after a levy is introduced because the place improves,” he noted.
As councils across the UK move closer to introducing visitor charges, they are aiming to balance the needs of local communities with those of visitors. By reinvesting revenues in infrastructure, the charges can support sustainable tourism while ensuring long-term benefits for popular destinations.