Future Hogmanay celebrations could receive funding from Edinburgh's new tourist tax
Future Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh could be supported by the new visitor levy, according to the city council leader Jane Meagher.
Edinburgh will this year become the first city in the UK to charge a visitor levy similar to schemes in European cities such as Amsterdam , after councillors voted to approve it in August 2024 .
Councillor Meagher said she would be "surprised" if some of the revenue from the tourist tax, which will add 5 per cent to accommodation bills in the city from July, was not used to support funding for Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
The event is organised by the council along with Unique Assembly, an events firm, but depends on funding applications each year.
She said decisions would be made by a committee rather than by herself, and other expenditure to boost tourism could include improvements to infrastructure such as lighting, litter collection and graffiti removal.
Cllr Meagher said: "It has got to be used for the purposes in the legislation, including supporting tourism, and the winter festivals are an important part of that."
She welcomed the introduction of the visitor levy, and said: "I am very keen on closing the gap in the city between the rich and the poor.
"It is a wealthy, thriving city if you are in on it, but if you are not, it is not a great place to be.
"The free events are so important to us, because it keeps it accessible to people.
"The winter festivals put £200 million into the economy, it is an investment - it is good for business and jobs, and people need jobs.
"We have had far more local businesses at the Christmas markets.
"I think it is really positive - we do everything possible to keep it positive. It cheers everybody up."
Despite the main Hogmanay street party being cancelled in 2024, the winter festival including the Christmas market were worth almost £200 million to the city last year and research published by Unique Assembly found more than 2.8 million people attended.