Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are encouraged to take part in upcoming webinars to learn more about the proposed Highland Visitor and how they can contribute to the formal consultation process.
The online webinars will take place on Wednesday 14 October and Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 6.30pm.
Convener, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: "We know there is significant public interest in the proposed Visitor Levy consultation, and we are encouraged by the uptake to date. However, with 7 weeks to go until the consultation closes, we want to ensure everyone can access information and take part in the statutory consultation process. These webinars are to help people better understand the proposal, hear more about how it could operate, and find out how they can share their views through the formal consultation.
"I would like to reiterate that no decision has been made on whether a Visitor Levy will be introduced in the Highlands. The purpose of this statutory consultation is to gather public feedback that will inform a report to The Highland Council, when Councillors will decide whether to introduce a Visitor Levy scheme in Highland.
"We encourage anyone with an interest in the proposal to read the information available which explains the legislative requirements of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, how a Visitor Levy could operate, and the framework that governs how any funds raised could be invested.
"Should a Visitor Levy be introduced in the future, the legislation is clear; any net proceeds must be used to support the scheme's objectives and invested in facilities and services that benefit visitors and local communities. However, at this stage, our main focus is on listening to the views of residents, businesses, visitors and stakeholders through the consultation process."
Structure of the webinars
During the webinars, attendees will hear about the legislation available to local authorities and how it could be used to design a Visitor Levy Scheme to support the visitor economy across Highland. The presentation will also outline the consultation process, anticipated timelines and the range of supporting information available to help people prepare and submit their consultation responses, ahead of the closing date of 30 November 2026.
To ensure the webinar is accessible and allows as many people as possible to take part, questions can be submitted in advance by registered attendees up to 12 noon the day before each session by email to visitorlevyconsultation@highland.gov.uk. Questions will be anonymised, grouped by theme and answered during the webinar following the presentation.
Responses to frequently raised issues will also be added to the regularly updated Frequently Asked Questions document.
As the webinar is intended to provide information and answer pre-submitted questions efficiently, the session will not be recorded and attendees will not have access to video, microphone or chat functions during the event.
Anyone with supplementary questions after the webinar can continue to submit them by email, with responses added to the FAQ document on Engage Highland where appropriate.
People wishing to attend are encouraged to register in advance and to submit any questions ahead of the deadline.
Visitor Levy Consultation Webinar registration details:
Wednesday 14 October 2026 and Wednesday 28 October 2026
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Link for the 14 October webinar: Visitor Levy Consultation Webinar | Join meeting in Teams | Microsoft Teams
Link for the 28 webinar: Visitor Levy Consultation Webinar | Join meeting in Teams | Microsoft Teams
For supporting documents and to complete the Visitor Levy consultation, visit the Engage Highland consultation portal. Closing date: 30 November 2026.