Visitor Levy Consultation with Industry Series: Highland Industry Forum

As the Highland Council's 12-week statutory consultation approaches its conclusion, we will bring together representatives from across Highland's tourism and visitor economy for a final Highland Visitor Levy Industry Forum.

This will be the culmination of our 12-week industry evidence and engagement programme, bringing together the findings and perspectives gathered through our sector and geographic discussions.

Bringing the Highland industry together

The Forum will provide an opportunity to:

• Reflect on what we have heard from businesses across Highland
• Consider the emerging evidence around the proposed levy
• Identify common themes, concerns and opportunities
• Explore what a fair, proportionate and workable approach could look like
• Consider how levy income could deliver genuine additional benefits for Highland
• Discuss governance, accountability and meaningful industry involvement
• Identify the key evidence and recommendations that should inform the Council's December decision

We will bring together accommodation businesses, the wider visitor economy, representative organisations, BIDs, tourism bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

From conversation to evidence

The Forum is not intended to replace individual consultation responses. Instead, it will help bring together the evidence and experience gathered through the programme and inform the joint Highland industry evidence report being prepared ahead of the Council's December decision.

Our ambition is to demonstrate that Highland's tourism industry can come together constructively around this important issue, while recognising the different circumstances and perspectives across our communities and sectors.

The session forms part of our 12-week Highland Industry Evidence and Engagement Programme, being coordinated by Visit Inverness Loch Ness alongside the Scottish Tourism Alliance, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, Highland Hotels Association, Highland Caravan & Camping Parks Association, Inverness City Centre BID, Nairn BID, Dornoch BID and other tourism and business organisations.

This is an important opportunity to shape what happens next.