Toeristenbelasting in Aberdeen: Waarom het toerisme er niet onder lijdt

Aberdeen is considering a 7% visitor levy, as the new Visitor Levy Bill in Scotland allows municipalities to introduce such a tax. What for us at Trippz immediately stands out in news articles you find online about the proposed tax, is the resistance from within the sector, with big statements like ‘’...the damage it could do to tourism...” Somehow there never seems to be an upside to such a tax, only downsides and dangers. Needless to say, we have a somewhat different perspective. Let’s dive in.

Visitor numbers and tourist tax: do they relate at all?

In 2024 the city of Amsterdam, raised its tourist tax to a steep 12,5% of the price paid for the accommodation. With this rate, Amsterdam is probably the most of expensive city when it comes to the absolute tax a visitor pays for its stay. And yet, the visitor numbers just keep growing. Up to the point that the city council is considering countermeasures to push back on the number of visitors (aprox. 25 million in 2024)

The city of Paris added a 200% surcharge to the base tax rate, ahead of the Olympics last year and visitor numbers were not affected in any way.

Yes, Aberdeen is not Paris nor Amsterdam. But a 7% fee is not outrageous, it maybe creeping towards the higher end of tax rates. But if you consider the full amount a traveller will spend during a city trip or longer holiday, including a visit to Aberdeen, it just doesn’t move the needle. No guest will skip Aberdeen due to a 7% added tax. The empirical evidence is just not there. In fact, if anything can be concluded from the thousands of municipalities across Europe that charge a tourist tax, it would be that an overnight stay tax (tourist tax) does not influence demand whatsoever.

The benefits for Aberdeen (and any destination)

Increased visitor numbers, due to tourism, put more pressure on a local society. Tourists use infrastructure, public transport and create waste. All logical, and as such completely logical as well cities introduce a tax to make tourists pay their fair share. The city of Aberdeen expects to raise somewhere between 6 and 8 million pounds with the tax. That is a significant amount of money. The city of Edinburgh, that introduces a 5% tax from the 24th of July 2026, expects to raise up to 50(!) million pounds with it. Long story short: serious revenue can be brought to the municipality’s coffers through a tourist tax. And as such, it can bring real benefits, if allocated properly:

• Infrastructure & Public Realm Upgrades If Aberdeen dedicates these funds to maintaining roads, public spaces, and cultural sites, tourists—and residents—will see immediate benefits. Clean streets, improved transport, and better (visitor) facilities enhance the overall experience, for both travellers and residents.

• A Balanced Relationship Between Locals & Visitors: By sharing the costs of essential services, tourism becomes more sustainable and less likely to strain local resources. This can help foster a healthier dynamic between locals who want to protect their home environment and visitors eager to enjoy Aberdeen’s charm.

• Boosting Aberdeen’s Long-Term Appeal: Well-funded festivals, restored historical landmarks, and better tourist services (just to name a few) create a virtuous cycle: happier visitors leave with positive impressions, which drives word-of-mouth and encourages repeat visits.

Our final take

From our point of view at Trippz, a 7% visitor levy isn’t just another tax—it’s proper policy making by Aberdeen’s council to ensure tourists pay their fair share, while create the opportunity for the council to invest in Aberdeen as a destination. Far from “killing tourism,” it sets a solid foundation, providing the resources to enhance infrastructure, support cultural programs, and maintain Aberdeen’s charm. The many experiences from other cities speak for themselves, and there’s every reason to believe Aberdeen can achieve the same outcome.