Stirling Council has agreed to further explore the idea of a tourist tax that would come into place from 2027.

The tourist levy would see a set charge added to stays in overnight accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets.

On Thursday, the council voted to begin a consultation with residents, local businesses and tourist operators before a final vote in December 2025.

A new law allowing Scottish councils to charge the visitor levy was passed in May and Glasgow, Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and the Highlands are considering plans to introduce the charge.

If Stirling levy is given the go-ahead, it would be subject to a minimum 18-month wait to come into effect, meaning the earliest it could be introduced would be June 2027.

There were a total of 686,000 overnight tourism visits to Stirling and Forth Valley in 2023, with a total spend of £205m, according to research from VisitScotland.

Estimations show a 1% visitor levy could bring in between £1.5m and £2.3m annually, while a 5% charge could generate between £5m and £7.5m.

Stirling Council – which covers parts of East and West Dunbartonshire, as well as tourist hotspot towns Aberfoyle, Callander and Crianlarich – said all money raised would be reinvested locally on facilities used by leisure and business visitors.

Depute leader Councillor Gerry McGarvey, said: “Tourism is one of the most important sectors in the Stirling economy.

“We are still at the early stages, but we are committed to exploring the potential of the visitor levy scheme and this will involve full public consultation with residents, businesses and visitors throughout 2025.”

However, Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, an organisation which supports self-catering properties, believes Stirling Council must “tread carefully”.

Ms Campbell said: “We have seen that short-term let licensing has been far from plain sailing and the same affected small businesses now look set to become de-facto unpaid tax collectors.

“It is not just operators or overseas visitors who will be impacted but ordinary Scots choosing to visit Stirling will be hit in the pocket too.

“Any levy must be set fairly, have good governance and thoughtful implementation at its core, and monies raised ringfenced for tourist infrastructure only.

“Failure to take these steps could result in a levy that erodes the very industry it is supposedly intended to support.”

Many European countries, including parts of Germany and Spain, already have levies.

Manchester introduced its City Visitor Charge last April to pay for measures aimed at attracting more visitors.

Its £1 per room, per night fee, is estimated to have raised about £2.8m in its first year.

Last month, Highland Council proposed a 5% tourist tax which it says could raise at least £10m a year and Edinburgh is also planning a similar charge which could raise up to £50m.

A final decision on he Edinburgh levy is set to be made in January and the scheme fully implemented by July 2026.