featured news‘Tourist tax’ rejected by councillors after strong oppositionSeptember 23, 2025 at 1:03 pmThe introduction of an overnight visitor levy in Orkney will not go ahead at this time. The decision, taken at today’s meeting of Orkney Islands Council’s policy and resources committee, follows extensive feasibility investigations, including stakeholder engagement with the local community, businesses and visitors. Similar decisions have been made in recent weeks by Shetland Islands Council and the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 gives local authorities discretionary power to charge overnight visitors staying in specified types of accommodation. However, the council’s commissioned study — conducted in partnership with Shetland Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar — found strong opposition to the overnight levy model among local residents and businesses, significant logistical issues of applying the levy and limited economic benefit.