Edinburgh council’s leader calls for tourist tax to fund city’s festivals

The organiser’s of the city’s Hogmanay have said that they expect to run the event at a £500,000 loss and are supporting of a tourist levy. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Edinburgh’s council leader has called for a new visitor levy to be introduced urgently to help the city fund its festivals, including this weekend’s loss-making Hogmanay street parties.

Cammy Day, leader of Edinburgh’s Labour administration, said the proposed visitor levy could help the city raise about £25m in extra funding for services and to subsidise tourism infrastructure.