Hotel tax plan to help pay for Hogmanay

THE organiser of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations has suggested the idea of a hotel tax in the Capital to help pay for the world-famous event.

Peter Irvine, director of Unique Events, which organises Edinburgh's celebrations, complained to MSPs that the event did not receive enough funding. He said: "The budget we have has been the same for years."

However, Mr Irvine, who was giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's economy, energy and tourism committee as part of its tourism inquiry, suggested a hotel tax to help pay for the cost of the bash. He said: "Hogmanay needs money and we are the only show in town."

Mr Irvine told MSPs that when the event was first set up Edinburgh was a "ghost town" at Hogmanay, with only a few hotels fully booked.