Additional dates for public Visitor Levy consultation sessions

The Highland Council has added additional dates to the series of engagement events so members of the public can take part in the current consultation process on the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme for Highland.

Additional events are to take place in Portree and Kinlochbervie.

The sessions that have taken place so far have been well received, with people attending to find out more about the consultation process and to ask lots of questions.

Council Convenor Bill Lobban said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has taken up the opportunity so far to come to speak to our staff to find out more about the consultation process and to ask questions. I’m pleased to see more dates for these drop-in-events being added as we want the consultation to be as inclusive as possible, ensuring that it fairly and accurately captures opinion and feedback from across all communities.”

The Public Library Community Drop-in Events are informal in-person drop-in sessions to chat with Council staff on the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme and ask questions about the proposal or the consultation process. Public access computers will be available on-site for members of the public to fill in the online consultation document, if required.

Details of sessions still to take place are as follows:

• Fort William Library – 26 February 2025, 11:00-13:00
• Ullapool Community Library – 27 February 2025, 11:00 – 13:00
• Brora Library – 28 February 2025, 10:30 – 12:30

The Community Drop-in Events still to take place are:

• Kyle of Lochalsh Service Point – 20 February 2025, 11:00 – 13:00
• Kinlochbervie Harbour Officer - 17 March 2025 - 11.30 - 13.30

There will also be a Community In-person Event on the Isle of Skye on Friday 14 March that will take the form of a formal presentation from Council staff on the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme followed by an opportunity to ask questions. This event will be held in the Skye Candle Visitor Centre , Portree from  2:00-3:30pm.

Formal industry-led events to discuss the specific business-related aspects of the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme with the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal or the consultation process will also take place. Chambers of Commerce have now publicised details of these sessions that council staff will be attending, and these are also listed on the Highland Council Visitor Levy Consultation website.

Everyone is being encouraged to regularly check the Visitor Levy Consultation website as further details are confirmed, and registration links to online events are published.

Also on the website are helpful FAQs that have been updated recently with additional questions raised at earlier public engagement sessions.