Green MSP Ross Greer wonders if pressure on city councils is different to elsewhere.

Cllr McVey agrees it is.

Managing the number of people that come to Edinburgh and maintaining core services requires revenue, he states.

"I appreciate that it's a difficult sell to industry," he concedes, but adds that it is necessary to ensure tourism continues growing.

Spending the revenue will be a business-led process, the councillor insists.

Image source, bbc

Mr Greene asks if tourists are not already paying by bringing additional money to the area.

Cllr Lobban argues the money does not come to the local authority.

He insists it is not unjustified to expect tourists to contribute, for example, to the upkeep of the North Coast 500 road.

Mr Greene highlights an FSB survey where two thirds of businesses were against the tourism tax.

Cllr McVey argues the amount is small and easy to administer.

He points out one in four businesses support the tax and it is not often people are willing to pay more.

A businessman who regularly cleans up mess left behind by visitors to Skye says a tourist tax would help pay for more facilities.

Roger Booth, who owns a food van at the Quiraing, tidies away litter on a daily basis at the beauty spot, as well as human waste on occasions.

He said a small fee charged at the Skye Bridge would help pay for more public toilets and better car parking.

Mr Booth said: "Even £1 a person, I am sure people wouldn't complain."

Read more.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks about other tax raising powers which are being considered.

Cllr McVey points to a parking levy in an attempt to increase public space and active travel.

Mr Greene wonders if the tourism levy tax would be ring-fenced to reinvest in the sector or would it be seen as a "top-up tax".

Cllr Lobban from Highland Council says £1 per night would generate about £12m per year for the council to spend on capital projects, such as toilets, car parks and roads.

We would discuss how to spend this with the public and industry, Cllr Loban states, before pointing out that tourists use the same facilities as residents do.

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson says some local authorities will benefit significantly from a tourism tax but will councils like North Lanarkshire and Clackmannanshire?

Mr Gibson asks what their take is on the issue of pooling the tourism tax from councils like Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Highland.

Councillor Gail Macgregor of COSLA replies this is about local discretion and allowing councils like Edinburgh and Highland to offset the pressures of high levels of tourism.

In other local authorities the tourism tax may never be implemented, says Ms Macgregor.

She insists the pressure on Edinburgh is immense and there is no requirement for a national pot.

Ms Baker asks how a tourism tax will help to grow visitor numbers.

Cllr Laing from Aberdeen City Council says there has been a rapid reduction in room rates due to the switch from business to leisure tourism in recent years.

We are much more competitive as a result, she states.

With reducing budgets year on year, the question is how local governments can sustain infrastructure for tourism says Cllr Laing.

It is important to have local flexibility to allow local government to stimulate economic growth, she adds.

She insists the levels being suggested means that combined VAT and a levy would result in roughly the same level of tax overall as is being imposed in other countries.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Claire Baker asks about concerns the tourism tax would have a negative impact on tourism numbers.

Councillor Adam McVey from City of Edinburgh Council replies the impact is "negligible".

Mr McVey points out the £11m generated will counter balance any impact.

The threat to the tourism of Edinburgh is not a tourism levy of a couple of pounds, he argues.

Convener Joan McAlpine highlights that the level of VAT in the UK is higher than in other countries which have introduced a tourism tax.

She points to concerns from the tourism industry that a transient visitor levy would only further increase the burden of tax.

Cllr Macgregor says implementation would be down to local consultation and a one-size-fits-all approach would not be appropriate.

With buy-in from and consultation with the tourism industry, and if they see the money going back into the industry, we can take them with us, she insists.

Image source, bbc

Councillor Bill Lobban from Highland Council tells the committee his council has not formally considered a tourist tax, but stresses there is massive support for its introduction.

Cllr Lobban explains tourism brings £1.2bn per annum to Highland and it supports 20,000 jobs, but it puts pressure on roads, parking and toilets.

He says there needs to a more long term answer to tourism funding or there is a "risk visitors just won't come back".

Cllr Lobban relates the tale of his recent visit to Paris where he was undeterred by the tourist tax there.

A tourists' experience will be spoiled if "they have to go to the toilet behind a bush" he warns.

More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling on Highland Council not to close its public toilets across the north Highlands.

Cllr Jenny Laing explains that Aberdeen is looking to build up its leisure and tourism industry, so it is in a rather different position from Edinburgh.

Tourism will help diversify the city's economy, she states.

Cllr Laing points to investment in infrastructure for the sector, including support for cultural events.

As the lowest funded council in Scotland, we need to look for ways to continue this investment she tells the committee.

Image source, BBC/Twitter

Scotland's culture minister has rebuked the leader of Edinburgh city council for suggesting a tourist tax could be in operation in the city in 2019.

The council says adding a £1 charge to hotel guests' bills could raise £11m to fund local services in Edinburgh.

Leader Adam McVey posted on Twitter, external in July that such a scheme could be "ready for implementation" within 12 months.

But Fiona Hyslop replied saying there is "no agreement with the Scottish government" to make this happen.

The council is keen to introduce a "transient visitor levy" amid rising visitor numbers.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Ms McAlpine asks why a transient visitor levy is needed.

Councillor Adam McVey from City of Edinburgh Council explains the levy would lead to funding of £11m for Edinburgh, a "significant figure".

Cllr McVey highlights the "fantastic" tourism in Edinburgh but says this comes with a cost.

"This is a way of us finding additional revenue to sustain what is an absolutely crucial and hugely successful part of Edinburgh's' economy."

Convener Joan McAlpine asks about support for a transient visitor levy.

Cllr Macgregor of Cosla says the 32 local authorities her organisations represents have backed the tourist tax.

Cllr Loban, Cllr McVey and Cllr Laing all confirm they are supportive of the levy, with the latter two highlighting groundwork done by their respective councils on the issue.

Image source, Getty Images

The local government organisation Cosla has backed a plan to impose a new tax on tourists.

Some councils, including Edinburgh, would like to introduce some form of levy on visitors, such as a charge on hotel bedrooms.

However, the Scottish government immediately said it had no plans to introduce such a scheme.

The small businesses body FSB has said it is "absolutely unconvinced" by the argument for a tourist tax.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Commmittee convener Joan McAlpine:

• Councillor Gail Macgregor of COSLA
• Councillor Bill Lobban from Highland Council
• Councillor Adam McVey from City of Edinburgh Council
• Councillor Jenny Laing of Aberdeen City Council

Image source, Getty Images

Today the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, external is discussing the transient visitor levy, also known as a tourist tax.

It will hear from council representatives, including Edinburgh Council which is hoping to move forward with the tax.

The paper's for the meeting are available here. , external

Welcome to Holyrood Live on Thursday 13 September 2018.

First up, the tourism committee is taking evidence on the grandly named transient visitor levy - or the tourist tax to you and me.

After general questions, we will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions.

Image source, BBC/PA

After that, Labour MSP Linda Fabiana hosts a member's debate titled 'East Kilbride Workers said "Nae Pasaran!"'.

Dominating the rest of the afternoon is a government-led debate on the success of Scotland's food and drink.