A town in the UK is thinking about adding a tourist tax, which could bring in more than £1 million each year.
A report in Scotland suggests adding a 5% charge to tourist accommodation to help pay for services that visitors often use.
This town gets over 800,000 visitors a year, and more than 500,000 of them stay overnight. This helps the local economy, which is now worth £150 million.
Popular attractions include the Kelpies, which get 850,000 visitors a year, and the Falkirk Wheel, which welcomes 500,000 people annually. Visitor numbers are still rising, and the Kelpies hope to reach one million visits per year by 2028.
With the opening of the new Rosebank distillery, plans for a new town hall and theatre, and a £3 million art park being built, the council expects even more tourists in the future.
Last year, a new law gave Scottish councils the right to charge visitors staying in hotels, B&Bs, and other paid accommodation.
Businesses would collect the money and pass it to the council, which would spend it on services linked to tourism.
This could include keeping streets clean, maintaining parks, improving public toilets, putting up decorations and festive lights, and organising events.
So far, four Scottish councils—Edinburgh, Stirling, Highland, and Argyll & Bute—have decided to introduce the charge. Falkirk Council is keeping an eye on how they do it.
Right now, all of these councils are planning to set the charge at 5%, and Falkirk would likely do the same if they go ahead.
It’s estimated that the tax could raise between £1 million and £1.5 million, but this doesn’t include costs for setting it up and collecting the money.
However, the report says more research is needed to check if these estimates are accurate before making a final decision.
The whole process will take at least two years, as councils must give 18 months' notice before starting. If approved, Falkirk Council will make a final decision in 2026/27.
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