Edinburgh council’s leader calls for tourist tax to fund city’s festivals

A levy would help the city to cope with its 4 million annual visitors, politicians and event organisers say

Edinburgh's council leader has called for a new visitor levy to be introduced urgently to help the city fund its festivals, including this weekend's loss-making Hogmanay street parties.

Cammy Day, leader of Edinburgh's Labour administration, said the proposed visitor levy could help the city raise about 25m in extra funding for services and to subsidise tourism infrastructure.