The Scotsman: Hundreds of Edinburgh tourism businesses are likely to be asked to plough money into a pot which would pay for a string of initiatives, The Scotsman has learned.
If given the go-ahead, Edinburgh would boast the UK's first US-style "business improvement district" (BID) dedicated to tourism.
Hotels and visitor attractions are the most likely to be asked to support the venture, although it could be extended to restaurants.
Relevant businesses are expected to be balloted on a proposal within the next 18 months, if initial research finds broad support for the introduction of the scheme.
Cash raised is likely to be ring-fenced for new marketing and promotional campaigns dedicated to Edinburgh. The idea is being explored by the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (Etag), a powerful lobby group for the industry, after hoteliers in the capital rejected plans to impose a "visitor levy" despite strong backing from the city council, which has warned Edinburgh is facing growing competition from abroad.
The Scottish Government has agreed a grant of £15,000 to pay for a research project into who should put money into the tourism BID and what money raised should be spent on.
About £1 million is planned to be raised by the Edinburgh BID, which is based on successful schemes set up in London's West End and Times Square in New York.
Businesses in Edinburgh city centre with a rateable value of £25,000 will pay an additional 1 per cent to the fund.
t is not yet known how much tourism businesses will be asked to pay.
However, Simon Williams, head of the Edinburgh Principal Hotels Association, said early estimates had shown more than £4 million a year could be generated by the tourism BID.
"Early research carried out by Etag has concluded that the creation of the UK's first tourism business improvement district should be the way forward and the next step is to explore this option in more details and carry out further consultation," he said.
"The legislation is in place to allow a BID to be set up. It would basically be up to the industry in the city to develop a proposal and then put it to the vote, as happened with the city centre scheme earlier this year."
Barbara Smith, executive manager of Edinburgh Castle and chair of Etag, said: "Edinburgh cannot be complacent in the face of an increasingly competitive global tourism market.
"Other cities are investing heavily in the visitor experience and using a range of new funding mechanisms to do so.
"I'm delighted that the Scottish Government has agreed to support Edinburgh in developing the concept of a tourism BID."
Iain Herbert, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Forum, said: "Edinburgh holds a vital role for tourism in Scotland.
"We're facing a bleak couple of years due to the current economic position and it is even more important to build strong partnerships to secure investment for the future."
|