City of Edinburgh Council have announced that income from Edinburgh’s new tourist tax will be used to fund the city’s maintenance.
Coming into force from 24 July 2026, money raised from the Edinburgh Visitor Levy — which is expected to make £50m a year — will be used to improve the city.
Councillors have agreed for around £90m to be used across three years in different areas, including City Operations and Infrastructure; Culture, Heritage and Events; and Destination and Visitor Management.
The decision comes in an effort to strengthen Edinburgh’s fame as a beloved tourist attraction.
This move is unprecedented in the UK.
Included in the investment plans are restoration of public buildings, public maintenance, an Arts Hub, a policing force in the centre, as well as environmentally-friendly projects.
Funding will also be siphoned off to cultural restorations and to create potentially 472 homes, with 75 per cent “potentially available for social rent.”
However, Green Party Councillor Kayleigh Kinross O’Neill believes funding could be better used, instead of “removing graffiti … or putting up bunting.”
£500,000 a year will be used to remove graffiti across the three years.
Cllr O’Neill also believes there should be “a free day of bus travel in August 2026,” while less money should be invested in police presence in the city.
Scottish Conservative MSP, Sue Webber, voiced similar concerns in Holyrood with the plans back in October 2025.
She criticised the plans’ lack of organisation and for causing “extra administrative burden that small businesses can ill afford.”
Despite these criticisms, the plans have also attracted positive attention.
Council leader, Jane Meagher, praised the planned investments, saying: “[they will] transform our city into a cleaner, greener and more welcoming environment.”
Chair of the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum, Julie Ashworth, welcomed the plans, hoping for “a transformative impact on both protecting Edinburgh’s unique heritage and … future success.”
Regardless, this summer will be important to both the plans’ supporters and opponents as the first during which they will be implemented.
There will be a review of the scheme and investments in 2029.
Image by Ulia Makoveeva for The Student.