Greens say Glasgow tourist tax will transform the city
Glasgow City Council has today agreed on plans for a tourist tax which would raise £16m a year for public services - a decision welcomed by the Scottish Greens to help improve the city.
The 5% tax is set to be charged on hotel bookings in Glasgow from January 2027. The money raised will be spent on public services, like street sweeping, investing in city landmarks, and improvements to parks, to improve the city for residents and visitors alike.
Glasgow Green councillors attempted to amend the scheme to include stronger measures like penalties for non-compliance and capping how much was spent on marketing, however these were voted down by the SNP, Labour, & Conservative councillors.
Passing the law to introduce a tourist tax came as a result of budget negotiations between the SNP and the Greens, and has been a long standing policy that Greens have been raising in Councils since 2011.
Green Cllr Blair Anderson, whose motion started the process, said:
“The tourist tax is going to be a game-changer for Glasgow, delivering more money to tidy up our city and make it even more attractive for visitors and residents alike.
“A small contribution from tourists will mean we can invest millions more in street sweeping, bin collections, and getting Glasgow looking good again.
“I’m glad that Greens in Holyrood got this law passed, and I’m grateful to all councillors who have worked with me over recent months to get this tax in place as soon as possible.”
Scottish Greens MSP for Glasgow, Patrick Harvie said:
“Glasgow is a global city, drawing visitors from all over the world. But we have seen how over-tourism can damage communities, like in Venice and Barcelona, where the residents end up paying the price.
“The tourist tax is vital to delivering sustainable tourism where local residents feel the benefit of our tourism and events sectors. I’m delighted that Glasgow is continuing to benefit from Green policy in action.”