Campsite and holiday park operators across Scotland’s Highlands have raised concerns that a proposed visitor levy could discourage motorhome and campervan users from staying at regulated sites, potentially increasing pressure on public parking areas and other local infrastructure.
Highland Council is proposing a visitor levy of £2 per night for hostels, campsites, and caravan parks, and £5 per night for hotels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and holiday rentals. The proposal is subject to a public consultation that will run until November 30, with a council vote expected in December.
Opponents of the proposed levy argue that charging overnight visitors at regulated campsites could influence where motorhome and campervan users choose to stay. Because vehicles parked in undesignated locations could fall outside the levy, operators fear the policy could unintentionally encourage some visitors to avoid established sites.
Industry representatives have warned that such a shift could affect campsite occupancy while increasing demand for public facilities, including waste disposal points, toilets, parking areas, and roadside infrastructure. For outdoor hospitality businesses, the concerns center on whether the levy would create an uneven financial incentive between regulated accommodation providers and alternative overnight parking locations.
A spokesperson for the Highland Caravan and Camping Association (HCCA) told The National: “If Highland Council decides to proceed with a Visitor Levy, it should postpone the inclusion of campsites until a solution is found that ensures motorhomes and campervans are treated consistently, regardless of where they stay overnight.”
The HCCA’s position reflects concerns about how the levy would apply to visitors using different types of overnight accommodation and parking. For campsite operators, the outcome could affect the competitiveness of their businesses and the extent to which visitors use facilities designed to accommodate motorhomes and campervans.
A meeting was held last week at the Dornoch Station Hotel as part of a series of industry meetings intended to gather feedback on the proposal. Businesses from across the Highlands attended, representing locations including Shieldaig, John O’ Groats, Aviemore, and Fort Augustus.
An HCCA spokesperson said: “The breadth of industry representation at this meeting was striking. Businesses travelled from Shieldaig to John O’ Groats and Aviemore to Fort Augustus to make sure their concerns were heard.
“This sends a clear message: businesses across the Highlands are alarmed about the Visitor Levy and want their views on potential impacts to be properly considered ahead of the Highland Council vote in December”.
Local councillor Ruraidh Stewart also expressed concerns about the proposal following discussions with tourism businesses.
Stewart said: “I welcomed the opportunity to hear directly from campsite and holiday park operators.
“The more I engage with businesses across the tourism sector, the clearer it becomes that the proposed Visitor Levy is simply unworkable in the Highlands.
“Those running these businesses understand the economics, visitor behaviour and practical realities, and the Council needs to listen carefully to what they are telling us.”
The consultation gives campsite operators and other tourism businesses an opportunity to present evidence about the potential effects of the levy before the council makes its decision. Relevant considerations include how overnight charges could influence booking decisions, whether visitors might relocate to unregulated parking areas, and how any resulting changes could affect public services and local communities.
For operators, the final structure of the levy could have implications for pricing, visitor demand, and competition between different types of accommodation. A policy that applies consistently to comparable overnight stays could also affect how motorhome and campervan users choose between commercial campsites and other locations.
The consultation is scheduled to close on November 30, with the council expected to vote on the proposal in December. The decision will determine whether campsites and other accommodation providers are included in the scheme and what arrangements, if any, are made to address the concerns raised by the industry.
