Meeting of the Parliament 19 February 2026 [Draft]
I thank the member for the intervention, but I think that I have already covered that point. [Interruption.] Yes, I have. It is up to individual local authorities to make their own decisions, including when it comes to infrastructure issues and what happens in local areas. If that is what the local authority wants to do, I agree with it.
I also note that the concerns that are being addressed by the bill were raised during the passage of the initial legislation, and I am pleased to note that the minister acknowledges that lessons can be learned from that.
Over the course of our evidence taking, we heard some concerns that I hope can be addressed at stage 2. The flexibility that the bill brings to vary the fixed amount of the levy, based on many factors across accommodation types and times of year, was welcomed. However, concerns were raised about the potential impact of the per-person, per-night model. Although COSLA pointed out that that option is used widely outside Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council highlighted the benefits that it would bring for data collection, others had reservations. Stakeholders have suggested that that would add up for families who are travelling with children and create additional barriers for those on low incomes when travelling in Scotland. The measures would also create potential complications for those working in the sector, in that it might place pressure on staff to verify visitor numbers. Many accommodation providers operate a contactless check-in system, and accommodation in holiday parks is often booked by pitch, rather than by person.
I completely agree with Willie Rennie’s comments about where we are with the bill. Time is of the essence; I think that we need to get on with it. The cross-party group on tourism, which I convene, heard that there is a need for an ambitious, robust, long-term strategy. I welcome the work that has been done to remedy the concerns so far and I look forward to a constructive stage 2 process.