Visitor levies – make sure museums’ voices are heard
Local Authorities across Scotland are holding consultations on whether to introduce visitor levies. Jason Rose, our Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager, shares how museums and galleries can take part in local consultations and have their say on how levy revenue is spent.
Since the Scottish Parliament passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill in May last year, local authorities have started looking at their options.
Visitor levies are common in other countries, and involve a fee on tourist accommodation, with proceeds used to maintain local infrastructure.
The City of Edinburgh Council consulted late last year – their proposal could generate up to £50million a year, with 35% of funds raised earmarked for Culture, Heritage and Events. City councillors will this month decide whether to back the new levy – which would take effect from July next year.
Meantime, Highland Council is now inviting views on its proposal in a consultation which runs until 7 February. The proposal is for a 5% levy on each night’s accommodation, which they estimate would raise £10m a year.
You can view Highland Council’s proposal and consultation here.
Looking at the language in the proposal and the consultation, there is a need to ensure museums and galleries benefit from any funds raised, and that the sector has a voice in how decisions relating to the funds are made.
As the national development body, Museums Galleries Scotland will be making a submission to the consultation, and we would encourage others in the sector to do the same. You can see the key points of our submission below.
Highland Council states that funds will be used to “support or develop facilities and services mainly used by leisure or business visitors and will be aligned with the Council’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy.”
A visitor levy forum will advise on how to spend the funds – this forum will include “representatives from Highland tourism businesses, communities and relevant tourism organisations.”
From that, it is not clear that charities running museums and galleries will be included. However, the sustainable tourism strategy referred to does list museums as tourism assets, noting: “Many are well established and are valued by visitors and local communities alike and play an important role in the local visitor economy. For example, the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore [and] Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.”
The consultation is by way of an online questionnaire, with 14 pages of questions, each with comment boxes to add freeform text. The questions cover various aspects of the proposal, which you may or may not have views on. Page 13 offers the opportunity to add more detailed comments, and that is where MGS will add the following points:
- Museums and galleries are of strategic importance to the visitor experience in the Highlands, so there is a clear rationale for allocating a share of any visitor levy funds to the sector. The proposal to align the visitor levy with the Sustainable Tourism Strategy is welcome, as the strategy lists museums as tourism assets, and notes: “Many are well established and are valued by visitors and local communities alike and play an important role in the local visitor economy. For example, the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.”
- It is important we treat any visitor levies as additional funds for culture and heritage rather than as replacements. Continued financial support from local and central government is essential, as the museums and galleries sector is already under huge pressure, with many organisations reporting low levels of reserves and some expecting to crease operating.
- As the national development body for the sector, Museums Galleries Scotland would highlight the positive impacts that museums and galleries deliver for Highland communities, not just through visitors spending in the local economy but also through public engagement, education and wellbeing. Many Highland museums and galleries are hubs for their communities, and are run by charitable organisations, so it would be helpful for the council to clarify that the sector would be invited to take part in the proposed Visitor Levy Forum.
We will keep an eye on what Highland Council decide to do next, and we are monitoring other local authorities. In addition to Edinburgh, it looks likely that Aberdeen City, Argyll & Bute, Orkney, and Stirling will come forward with visitor levy proposals soon. In each case, our sector must have a say in how any funds are distributed, as well as receiving a fair share.
