Edinburgh could add festival tax to tickets
It has been reported that Edinburgh City Council is looking at introducing a nominal charge on all tickets to shows during the Edinburgh Festival.
Council leader Jenny Dawe has said that she believes the tax charge would be supported by the public, if they knew the money would be used to improve venues.
Dawe suggested that the tax could be done on a voluntary basis, with a tick box for online ticket sales which people could click to put the extra amount.
She also wants to re-examine the idea of a ‘bed tax’, which was previously knocked back. Under the proposed plans, guests would have an extra £1 put on their hotel bill.
William Burdett-Coutts, artistic director of Assembly Theatre, told the Scotsman: "I think it is insane if they try to put this on to Fringe venues because there is just not the money for it.
"The Fringe is very fragile and, while people at the council might think that people are making loads of money, it is not actually like that and this would be very dangerous."