Tag: ASSC

Edinburgh Visitor Levy comes into effect today

The UK’s first city-wide visitor levy scheme will officially apply to paid overnight stays in Edinburgh starts today – Friday 24 July 2026.

The ‘Tourist Tax’ levy is projected to raise up to £50 million a year to invest in sustaining, supporting and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live.

A 5% fee will now apply to the cost of all paid overnight accommodation in Scotland’s capital city, capped at five nights in a row. The levy is charged at the same rate every day of the year.

The scheme was formally agreed in January 2025 and has applied to all advance bookings made since 1 October 2025 for stays taking place on or after 24 July 2026.

Councillors agreed the first full set of investment programmes using funding raised by the levy in February.

Worth over £90 million over the next three years, the initial programmes fall under three well-defined themes:

City Operations and Infrastructure;

Culture, Heritage and Events; and

Destination and Visitor Management.

The Council will receive the first levy receipts in October and November of this year.

Several ‘early win’ projects have already started, including:

  • A £132,000 contribution towards Edinburgh’s Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras events, which took place over the weekend of 18/19 July, providing an early demonstration of the Council’s intent to reinvest the levy’s funds into experiences that everyone can enjoy, whether they are visitors or residents.
  • Funding ten festival city ambassadors to help visitors find their way around the capital this summer, and work alongside the Council’s partners to make sure Edinburgh remains a vibrant and inclusive place.
  • Partnering with Police Scotland to create a City Centre Policing Unit, increasing public safety in the city centre and freeing up existing resource for frontline officers to be more present across other areas of the city.

Other key initiatives to be delivered in the next three years include, but are not limited to:

  • A £2m Participatory Budgeting (PB) programme to fund local neighbourhood projects in all 17 of the city’s electoral wards, chosen by residents via a new online voting portal, while also encouraging visitors to explore Edinburgh’s many hidden gems.
  • Funding to ensure the city’s streets and open spaces are clean and kept to a high standard, including a £100,000 per year upgrade and replacement programme for bins in high footfall areas, £500,000 per annum to expand work to tackle graffiti through extra support for private businesses and £1.3m on additional operations services for the city centre (waste, cleansing, patrols).
  • Ambitious projects to renew and restore principal areas of Edinburgh, including investments in town centre high streets, £3m for public realm improvements in Hunter Square and £2m and £2.5m respectively towards transforming the city’s key coastal visitor attractions at Cramond foreshore and Portobello Promenade.
  • £5m contribution to restore Leith Theatre and create a year round culture and live music space, expanding cultural opportunity beyond the city centre.
  • £3m towards transforming the iconic Old Royal High School into a world class, national centre for music open to all.
  • £3.85m to speed up the setted streets renewal programme and £3m for new and upgraded public toilets to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to an accessible and world-class standard.
  • Investing in premier parks across the city to create improved spaces where the highest footfall and impact on the environment is experienced – and increases to the parks repairs budgets, while doubling the number of park rangers across the city.
  • Programmes to green the city with additional investment in planting, such as floral gateways, to improve the look and feel of the city’s green spaces as well as the overall visitor experience.

A full list of the projects set to be funded in the first three years of the scheme is available on the Visitor Levy section of the Council’s website.

In the run up to the levy’s formal introduction, the Council has been providing ongoing support to businesses in the visitor economy. This has included providing materials to help businesses communicate the scheme to their guests, summarising key information on how it’s paid and the benefits it will bring to the city.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “This is such an important moment for our city – and for our residents and visitors. It’s the result of a huge amount of work over many, many years and I am proud to be the first local authority in the UK to push ahead with a city-wide visitor levy scheme. We now have a unique opportunity to invest more in the things that make our city so special.

“We know that the city’s popularity comes at a cost through the pressure it puts on our services and on the people who live and work here all year round. This small new contribution from overnight visitors will help improve the services and public spaces we all depend on, while better managing the effects of tourism and major events.

The levy has also opened the door to exciting new projects right across the city – helping to make Edinburgh a cleaner, greener and more welcoming place. We’ll soon be able to invest more into our many parks and greenspaces, and bring much-loved cultural venues such as the Royal High School and Leith Theatre back into use for the first time in decades – and much more.

“We’ve always said this is a city-wide fund and spending decisions need to be taken with the whole city in mind – and we’re very grateful to Edinburgh’s businesses and residents for their constructive feedback and support throughout the process.

“I’m very aware of how busy the city’s accommodation providers are at this time of year and we’re continuing to do everything we can to support them as the scheme comes into effect. 

“This is a big opportunity for us all to work together and enhance Edinburgh’s position as one of the most popular visitor destinations in the world.”

Chair of the Edinburgh Visitor Levy Advisory Forum, Julie Ashworth said: “The Forum is here to continue to put forward the views of the city to ensure they are fairly and accurately represented as the investment projects begin to take shape.

“We all want Edinburgh to remain a world class destination in a way that works for everyone, and the levy is now ready to deliver transformative investment that will protect its unique heritage and support its future success.

“We’ve continued to work closely with Council officers to provide robust feedback on the investment projects and ensure the levy delivers real, visible improvements and supports both the visitor experience and everyday life for residents.

“From revitalised public spaces to better visitor infrastructure and experiences, we’re confident the levy can help Edinburgh stay welcoming, resilient and successful.”

ASSC Demands Fair, Transparent Implementation in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s visitor levy will take effect from today (24th July), marking the start of what the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is calling “the real test” for the policy. The launch of the levy comes as new figures confirm that the city is already one of the most expensive in Europe to visit, before the new tax is even added to the bill.

According to the Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer 2026, Edinburgh now ranks as the third most expensive city break destination in Europe, behind only Oslo and Copenhagen, and is the most expensive city on the continent for two nights’ accommodation [1]. The findings will add to concerns from the self-catering sector that the levy risks compounding an affordability problem that already sets Edinburgh apart due to its onerous short-term let licensing and planning regime.

While much of the tourism industry opposed the plans, with the ASSC remaining critical of the percentage model, the leading trade body says the focus must shift to implementation, ensuring it is implemented fairly, transparently and with the minimum possible burden on businesses. The Council must be laser-focused on the evidence through honest monitoring and adjusting the charge if the data shows unintended consequences.

From tomorrow, accommodation providers become responsible for collecting the levy – this adds administration, software changes, staff training, and compliance work to businesses that are often small and micro-enterprises.

The ASSC has repeatedly raised concerns that national guidance arrived too late for businesses to prepare with confidence, and that the National Digital Portal does not resolve VAT treatment, booking system compatibility or day-to-day guest communications.

Moreover, the ASSC emphasises that the levy is not simply a charge on overseas tourists. Around 70% of Scotland’s tourism comes from the domestic market, meaning the levy will also be paid by Scottish families, UK visitors, people attending weddings and funerals, those visiting friends and relatives, and people travelling for medical appointments.

The Association is urging the Council to judge the scheme’s success not by how much revenue it raises, but by its impact on visitor numbers, occupancy, spending, employment and Edinburgh’s overall competitiveness. It wants any levy income to fund additional investment in the visitor economy – not to replace existing council spending or fill funding gaps – with full transparency over how every pound is spent.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, commented: “Edinburgh already tops the table as one of the most expensive cities in Europe to stay in and that’s before a single pound of this levy has been charged.

“The real test isn’t the day the levy starts, it’s what happens next. Businesses will readily comply under difficult circumstances, but they need the Council to hold up their end of the bargain with clear guidance, honest monitoring of the evidence, and absolute transparency about where the money goes.

“Overall, we want to see a scheme that is fair, proportionate, transparent and evidence-led, one that supports the visitor economy rather than undermining the businesses that help make Edinburgh one of the world’s great destinations.”

ASSC calls for fair regulation to be an urgent election issue

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has written to senior policymakers across the political spectrum, urging them to recognise fair and proportionate regulation of self-catering as an urgent issue for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.

The letters set out how the current regulatory environment for self-catering is increasingly unstable and inconsistent, as lawful and compliant businesses face growing uncertainty with the looming threat of closure for many. What was intended to be a balanced framework is in reality creating serious risks for businesses and local economies, particularly in rural, island and remote areas where self-catering plays a vital year-round role.

The ASSC highlights mounting concerns around the way planning permission and short-term let licensing rules are being applied by some local councils, often in ways that go beyond the intent of national Scottish Government policy.

Despite assurances that these regimes would be decoupled, they are increasingly being reconnected in practice, with operators facing licence refusal, non-renewal or additional planning hurdles even where no material harm has been evidenced.

The correspondence emphasises that this cannot be seen as a marginal sector issue as self-catering provides an annual £1bn boost to the Scottish economy and supports more than 29,000 jobs.

Continued regulatory drift and overreach risks further eroding business confidence, stalling investment and placing communities which rely on tourism under unnecessary strain. If left unaddressed, this issue risks becoming a litigation problem in the next Scottish Parliament.

The ASSC has therefore asked parties to commit to, as part of their election platforms, practical and deliverable solutions. These include a clear and unequivocal decoupling of short-term let planning and licensing regimes, stronger national guidance with defined limits on local discretion, and a review of planning policies that are currently enabling unintended and inconsistent outcomes. These asks align directly with the ASSC Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election.

The trade body has made clear that early political leadership can prevent further escalation and provide a much-needed reset with industry. They have also invited parties to engage directly with the sector to shape workable solutions early in the next Parliament. 

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Our sector is fully supportive of fair and proportionate regulation but what it cannot sustain is a system that is unclear, inconsistent and increasingly adversarial in nature.

“If Scotland’s £1bn self-catering sector is to continue playing its positive role in communities across Scotland, we sincerely hope that all parties take heed of the concerns being raised by responsible operators and commit to engaging constructively with us.

“By working together, we can secure the correct regulatory balance that benefits all stakeholders and fixes this issue once and for all.”

A copy of the letter can be viewed here.

ASSC-2026-Election-ManifestoDownload

Edinburgh short-term let control area has delivered NO measurable housing benefit, new FOI reveals

ASSC warns other local authorities in Scotland considering comparable schemes

A Freedom of Information response has confirmed that the City of Edinburgh Council holds NO EVIDENCE that its Short-Term Let Planning Control Area has delivered any measurable improvement in housing supply, affordability or market outcomes since it was introduced in 2022.

The findings, released today by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), raises serious questions for other local authorities, including Highland and Fife Councils, that are actively considering introducing similar controls.

In response to the FOI request, Edinburgh Council confirmed it does not hold any quantitative data, impact assessments or evaluations showing improvements in overall housing availability, affordable housing supply, property sale prices or private rental costs since the Planning Control Area (PCA) was implemented.

It also confirmed that no internal or external review has been carried out to assess whether the policy has worked.  

When asked about empty homes and second homes, the Council relied solely on broad Scottish Government statistics published at whole local authority level, rather than providing any analysis specific to the PCA itself.

At the same time, independent market data shows that housing costs have continued to rise. Average property prices across Edinburgh and the wider region increased by more than 4% in 2025, while private rents in the Lothians remain among the highest in Scotland and continue to climb year on year.

The ASSC has described the findings as a clear example of regulation introduced without an evidence base and maintained without proof of success.

In response, it reiterated its call for an independent post-implementation review of the Edinburgh STL PCA and for housing policy to focus on proven solutions, including new build delivery and targeted empty homes initiatives.

The ASSC is also appealing for an immediate pause on the further expansion of PCAs until there is clear, localised and transparent evidence that they actually work. The leading trade body warned that other councils should pause and reflect before following Edinburgh’s lead.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “This FOI response confirms something deeply troubling. A major planning intervention has been introduced, enforced and defended without any evidence that it actually delivers housing benefit. That is not how good policy should be made.

“The facts completely undermine the narrative surrounding this policy. Since the STL Planning Control Area was introduced in Edinburgh, house prices and rents have continued to rise with no sign of improved affordability or increased supply. All that’s happened in nearly three and a half years of operation is increased costs and disruption to small businesses.

“For other councils like Highland and Fife mulling similar schemes, the risks are significant. These controls can damage local tourism economies, undermine small family-run businesses and reduce visitor spend, without delivering the housing benefits that are often promised. Edinburgh’s experience should be act as a cautionary tale, not a template.

“If a policy cannot demonstrate that it has achieved its stated objectives, the answer is not to double down but to reassess. Scotland needs housing solutions that genuinely increase supply and affordability, not ill-conceived ideological measures driven by assumption which only serve to raise false hopes within local communities.”

Scotland’s Self-Catering Industry sets out stall ahead of Holyrood elections

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has launched its 2026 Manifesto for the upcoming Holyrood Elections, setting out a clear call to all political parties to champion fair regulation, evidence-based policymaking and sustainable growth across Scotland’s £1bn self-catering sector.

The manifesto, Championing Scotland’s Self-Catering: Fair Regulation, Strong Partnerships, Sustainable Growth, highlights the vital role self-catering plays within Scotland’s tourism economy, one which supports more than 29,000 jobs, driving local employment and spending in rural, island and urban areas alike.

The ASSC also calls for a reset in the relationship between government and tourism businesses, with a move away from piecemeal regulation towards proportionate, coherent and market aware policy that supports sustainable growth while addressing genuine community concern.

The six key priorities set out in the ASSC’s manifesto include:

·         Fair, lawful and proportionate reform of short-term let regulation: secured through a clearer separation of planning and licensing, as well as protection for compliant operators from disproportionate enforcement.

·         Ending the scapegoating of self-catering in housing policy: self-catering accounts for just 0.8% of Scotland’s housing stock while boosting the economy by £1bn, so it is time to change the narrative.

·         A new partnership model between government and industry: the creation of a new statutory Tourism & Hospitality Partnership Forum with earlier, structured engagement on policy design.

·         Future-fit regulation reflecting market conditions and cumulative regulatory impact: using impact assessments before introducing yet more regulation or taxation affecting tourism.

·         A fair fiscal framework for tourism: with much-needed reform of Non-Domestic Rates and recognition of the sector as a key growth industry in Scotland’s economic strategy.

·         A simple and deliverable visitor levy: use of a simple flat rate for those councils who wish to proceed, and shifting liability from operators to guests supported by QR-code or online payment systems.

The ASSC argues that tourism remains one of Scotland’s most resilient and dynamic industries, and that self-catering underpins its success, particularly in sustaining local economies and communities.

The manifesto therefore recommends the next Scottish Government to champion tourism through a dedicated Minister for Tourism.

Commenting on the launch, Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Scotland’s £1bn self-catering industry is at the heart of this country’s tourism success, supporting jobs, local communities and economies in every corner of the land.

“As we look ahead to this important election, our message is clear: fair regulation, strong partnership and evidence-led policy are essential if tourism is to continue delivering for Scotland.

“This manifesto sets out a positive, practical route forward, one which reflects the real-world experience of thousands of small businesses. The ASSC wants to usher in a new era of collaboration between government and industry, and we are calling on all parties to work with us to reset the relationship with business, rebuild trust, and create the conditions for sustainable growth which benefits us all.”

ASSC 2026 Election ManifestoDownload

Visitor Levy Amendment Bill published

Greater flexibility to design local schemes

New legislation has been published that will give councils more choice in how they design and apply a visitor levy to raise funds for local tourist services. 

While local authorities currently have the power to apply a charge on overnight stays based on a percentage of accommodation costs, the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill proposes giving councils additional powers to set the levy as a fixed amount.

If passed by Parliament, the legislation will also allow councils to set a range of fixed amounts, such as for different geographical locations, times of year or types of accommodation.

In addition, the Bill clarifies how accommodation providers should report to councils and how levies are applied to sales made through third parties such as travel agents.

Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: “When we introduced the original visitor levy legislation, we wanted to empower councils to implement a scheme that was right for their areas and easy to understand for local businesses.

“We worked closely with councils and tourism bodies when the original legislation was considered and passed by Parliament. These new proposals will give councils even more flexibility and provide clarity to businesses.

“We want to ensure visitor levies are an effective option for councils who choose to introduce them to boost investment in local economies and services.”

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and Vice Chair of Scottish Tourism Alliance Policy Group, said: “The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers warmly welcomes the introduction of the Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy (Amendment) Bill.

“The commitment to introduce much-needed legislative changes in the current parliamentary timetable is an important recognition of the urgency of the situation and the continuing complexities that a percentage-based model presents for Scotland’s valuable accommodation sector.

“If passed, this legislation will give local councils greater flexibility and choice by allowing them to set the levy as a fixed amount. This is a pragmatic change that industry has pushed hard for, and it also reflects a clear cross-party desire to ensure the visitor levy is fit for purpose, proportionate and workable in practice.

“We are heartened that the Scottish Government has listened to consistent, evidence-based concerns.

“We look forward to working constructively with the government and MSPs from all parties as the Bill progresses, to help deliver a levy that boosts local tourism investment in those areas that choose to take it forward, while supporting Scotland’s vital tourism economy.

“Given that change is coming, the sector would encourage local authorities, including those who have already formally consulted on a percentage-based levy, to seriously consider opting for a simpler, more workable fixed amount charge, which will have a less damaging impact on the accommodation businesses that are the lifeblood of our local communities.”

Edinburgh’s plans for Visitor Levy housing spend approved

City councillors have agreed the first spend programme for funding raised by the Edinburgh Visitor Levy.

Members of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee approved plans for the £5m Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund, which could help deliver 472 affordable homes between 2026/27 and 2028/29, with more than 75% potentially available for social rent.

Making more social rent homes available would allow households currently using unsuitable temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, to access more appropriate settled accommodation. This would return B&Bs to their intended uses of shorter-term guests.

It is expected the Fund would support three new build developments – at Fountainbridge, Meadowbank and Coatfield Lane in Leith – with around 361 social rented homes and around 111 mid-market rent homes.

The investment is subject to approval from Council at the budget meeting on 26 February 2026. If it proceeds, the performance of the delivery programme will be reported to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee on an annual basis.

Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme was formally agreed in January 2025.

The levy applies to paid overnight accommodation booked after 1 October 2025, if the stay takes place from 24 July 2026 onwards. It is a 5% payment on the accommodation-only cost and applies to the first five nights’ stay.

The scheme is projected to raise up to £50 million a year to invest in developing, supporting and sustaining services for visitors to the city, and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Many of those working in our city’s thriving visitor economy and cultural sectors are often unable to find affordable housing in the city, making it difficult for them to live close to where they work.

“In addition, the Council has declared a housing emergency, with more and more people presenting as homeless and not enough social homes available to meet this demand, and so too many residents have to use temporary accommodation, often in bed and breakfasts or hotels, taking vital capacity away from what should be tourist accommodation.

“That’s why it’s so important that this new funding is being committed towards a Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund, which will be used alongside our existing investment programme for house building.

“This will ensure affordable homes are available for visitor economy workers in the city and means that bed and breakfast and hotel rooms can be used for their intended purpose – to welcome visitors to Edinburgh.

“This is the first fully agreed use of the Edinburgh Visitor Levy’s funds and will help deliver our objectives of developing, supporting and sustaining the quality public services and infrastructure that Scotland’s capital city must deliver for all visitors, residents and businesses.”

The money generated by the Visitor Levy scheme will be reinvested directly into initiatives that benefit residents and enhance visitor experiences.

In addition to housing, the investment streams include: city operations; destination and visitor management; culture, heritage and events; and a participatory budgeting programme, which will further allow residents and communities to have a say in how investment can be made to enhance the visitor experience in their area.

These investment streams are being developed by officers, and the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum will be consulted on all proposals. The proposals will be presented for final approval from relevant Council committees in January and February 2026.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and Vice Chair of Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) Policy Group said: “The ASSC fully supports the delivery of more affordable housing but this is not the right way to go about it.

!The levy was meant to support visitor infrastructure and services, not fund housing projects. Tourism businesses are once again being scapegoated for issues far beyond their making. 

“It is deeply regrettable that Edinburgh Council now lays itself open to further avoidable legal and reputational damage. Instead of brushing aside reasonable concerns, the Council should listen to industry partners who will ultimately be the ones administering their visitor levy scheme.

“We urge the Council to halt these plans immediately until the legal risk has been properly evaluated.”

ASSC calls out lack of government and council guidance as Visitor Levy deadline looms

As the countdown begins to the introduction of Edinburgh’s visitor levy on 1 October 2025, the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is expressing serious concerns over the lack of official guidance and support for accommodation providers.

Since the introduction of the short-term let licensing legislation, the ASSC worked tirelessly to support Scottish operators through the transition, offering practical, reliable information and hands-on assistance where government failed to engage.

In 2022, ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell MBE and licensing solicitor Joanna Millar launched a nationwide Regulations Roadshow to help demystify the legislation and empower operators to comply, delivering 26 such events and partnering with many local councils, reaching nearly 10,000 people.

The ASSC also developed a suite of comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions, now in Version 7, which was widely adopted by VisitScotland.

The ASSC had intended to replicate this model – achieved without meaningful support or funding from the Scottish Government – to help operators in advance of the Visitor Levy going live in Edinburgh.

However, with less than 10 weeks to go, this has proved impossible due to the complete absence of guidance from either the Scottish Government or Edinburgh Council.

The outstanding issues include:

  • No business-specific guidance – only deficient guidance intended for local authorities
  • No clarity on VAT status
  • No method of calculation
  • No confirmed exemptions framework
  • No timing confirmed for collection (e.g. at booking, on arrival, or departure)
  • No detail on how the Levy aligns with the Digital Markets Act
  • A delayed National Portal, not due until March 2026
  • No consumer-facing communications strategy.

This lack of preparedness raises serious questions about how the scheme can be implemented fairly, consistently, or without negative consequences for businesses. 

The ASSC is calling for immediate clarity from both the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, and remains ready to support a pragmatic and effective rollout of the Visitor Levy – if and when the necessary tools are put in place.

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the ASSC, said: “We were fully prepared to run another national roadshow to support our members and the wider accommodation sector through this significant change – but we simply cannot provide clarity where there is none.

“It is unacceptable that, with just weeks to go, businesses still have no official guidance on the most basic operational aspects of the Visitor Levy. Once again, industry is left to pick up the pieces. 

“We are committed to constructive engagement and practical solutions, but we cannot continue to operate in an information vacuum.

“Scotland’s accommodation providers and guests deserve better than this. The clock is ticking and the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Council need to act now.”

Embrace Scotland – Stay. Celebrate. Belong: Take a Celebreak in Scotland

ASCC LAUNCHES CELEBREAK CAMPAIGN

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) today launches its latest EmbraceScotland campaign: Stay. Celebrate. Belong: Take a Celebreak in Scotland.

Running from July to October 2025, this inspiring campaign champions self-catering holidays as a flexible, affordable, and sustainable way to celebrate life’s meaningful moments – from birthdays and anniversaries to wellness milestones and multigenerational family holidays.

With sustainability, connection, and wellbeing at its core, the campaign invites visitors to discover a more meaningful way to holiday – one that celebrates life, supports communities, and treads lightly.

What Is a Celebreak?

A Celebreak is more than a holiday, it’s a celebration of life, made possible by the freedom and authenticity that self-catering offers. Whether it’s a special occasion, a personal milestone, or simply time to reconnect with loved ones, self-catering properties provide the space, comfort, and privacy to mark these moments your way – with room to laugh, rest, reflect, and truly belong.

Leading the Way in Sustainable, Community-Driven Tourism

This initiative aligns with VisitScotland’s growing “Celebreaktions” trend and the rise in wellness-led, purpose-driven travel. By encouraging longer stays and direct bookings with local self-catering operators, “Celebreaks” support small businesses, strengthen rural and local economies, and reduce the environmental impact of travel – all while helping visitors connect more deeply with the communities they visit. 

“At the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), we believe travel should nourish both the soul and the planet,” said Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of ASSC.

“Self-catering stays offer people the chance to connect, restore, and celebrate life’s important moments – all while supporting Scotland’s communities and environment. ‘Stay. Celebrate. Belong.’ isn’t just a slogan – it’s an invitation to experience Scotland more meaningfully, affordably, and sustainably.”

Why Self-Catering? Why Now?

Self-catering accommodation offers something traditional hotels can’t: freedom. Guests enjoy the flexibility to cook together, stay longer, live like locals, and choose from a variety of settings, whether an eco-lodge in the Scottish Borders, a Highland coastal cottage, or a luxury city apartment.

Key Benefits:

  • Affordable: Often lower cost per night, especially for families and groups.
  • Flexible: Tailored stays for any occasion or lifestyle.
  • Sustainable: Encourages longer visits, reduces environmental impact, and supports local economies.

Plan Your Celebreak

Whether you’re planning a 2026 celebration or looking for an autumn retreat this year, now is the perfect time to start. Booking early ensures the best choice of properties, dates, and offers, especially when booking direct.

Join the Celebreak Campaign

Find your perfect self-catering stay, discover exclusive offers, and be inspired at embracescotland.co.uk.

Share your #CelebreakScotland moments and follow the campaign on Instagram and Facebook.

Because in Scotland, celebration isn’t just something you do – it’s something you feel.

This is NOT our crisis!

ASSC TAKES MESSAGE TO SCOTLAND’S POLITICIANS: STOP SCAPEGOATING SELF-CATERERS

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has launched a Scotland-wide campaign which strongly criticised the ongoing claims from certain sectors of national and local government that Scotland’s housing emergency has been caused by legitimate owners of self-catering properties.

The campaign, which highlights the issue of elected representatives and officials scapegoating the sector while, at the same time, a far greater number of available properties lie empty across Scotland, launched in Edinburgh this morning, with stops outside Edinburgh City Chambers, as well as Holyrood.

The campaign will continue this week with stops encompassing Glasgow, Helensburgh, Inverness, Perth and Glenrothes, as well as the two previous stops in Edinburgh.

Self-caterers have become an easy target for lazy attempts to scapegoat the sector, rather than deal with the real issues at hand; utilising empty properties and building more affordable housing. The Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers would rather deal in facts, which are: 

  • Self-catering = 0.8% of housing stock, Scotland wide, while empty properties = 3.6%
  • Self-catering contributes £864 million to the Scottish economy 
  • Self-catering supports 29,324 jobs 

It’s time to set the record straight. Let’s talk facts – not fiction.

It is clear that housing needs will not be met by penalising tourism microbusinesses. Instead, they will be met by building homes, tackling second homes, and taking an evidence-led approach.

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Hard-pressed self-catering operators will be experiencing more than a little sense of déjà vu as their sector is once again scapegoated for a shortage of homes.

“Recycling the same tired calls for even stricter controls on short-term lets, despite no evidence it will ease housing pressures, is regulatory overkill. They risk hammering a £864m self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism. 

“Our message is clear: you won’t solve a housing crisis by initiating a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses underpinning local economies. Attention must shift to the real causes of the housing crisis and stop scapegoating self-catering.”

Latest short-term let policy debacle hits Scotland’s self-catering sector, says ASCC

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is calling for urgent action to rectify yet another blunder afflicting Scotland’s tourism industry, this time stemming from a deeply flawed implementation of the new Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) process for self-catering holiday accommodation.

The ASSC has been made aware of thousands of self-catering operators being unjustly removed from NDR – and in some cases taken to Tribunal for allegedly failing to provide evidence of the 70 nights’ occupancy rule for the 2023–24 period.

Critically, operators failed to receive formal requests for evidence from Scottish Assessors which were sent out by untracked mail, despite easily being able to evidence the required occupancy. This is once again penalising legitimate small businesses – who do so much to boost local economies across Scotland – and was clearly not the policy intention.

Many long-standing and compliant businesses have not only been unlawfully removed from the valuation roll and commercial water and waste provision, but also hit with double council tax bills and are facing severe emotional and financial distress – all without ever receiving the legally required Assessor correspondence.

Recent ASSC survey work highlighted 63% of operators never received the formal evidence request letters; 95% of delisted businesses were able to prove compliance with letting requirements; and 81% have been billed for second home council tax, some facing eyewatering charges of up to £120,000.

To compound matters, in a response to a recent parliamentary question from Alexander Stewart MSP, Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison suggested that operators could benefit from relief schemes – however, this completely misses the point: if a business has been removed from the NDR system altogether, it cannot access any such support. This fundamental misunderstanding highlights just how disconnected the Scottish Government is from the realities facing the self-catering sector.

Recent figures from the Scottish Government [1] showed an anomaly in the number of properties removed from the valuation roll in 2023–2024 — more than double any previous year, with 3,810 removals compared to 1,540 in 2022–2023.

This latest development comes in the wake of the ongoing STL licensing and planning shambles, which has squeezed the supply of available accommodation while pushing up costs – especially in Edinburgh, the most expensive major city break destination in western Europe according to a recent Post Office Travel Money analysis.

The industry is now increasingly alarmed by the current impasse on the treatment of self-catering accommodation within the NDR framework despite pleas to relevant stakeholders. While Assessors assert that they are merely applying existing legislation and cannot act without further instruction or legislative change, Scottish Ministers maintain that Assessors are independent and therefore beyond intervention. 

The self-catering sector therefore finds itself in a troubling Catch-22 scenario which it hopes can be resolved through urgent and pragmatic leadership to ensure self-catering operators receive the fair treatment they deserve.

Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, commented: “This policy was introduced to remove economically inactive second homes from benefiting from NDR relief, which we support.

“It was never meant to target legitimate small businesses. The system has failed and it is now punishing the very operators who support our tourism economy and rural communities. We urge the Scottish Government and Assessors to act swiftly and lawfully to correct this injustice.

“As we approach the busy summer season, the last thing the Scottish self-catering needs is yet another debacle hitting our sector, hot on the heels of the accumulated regulatory burden from short-term let licensing and planning regulations, and before local tourist taxes are imposed. 

“This relentless uncertainty is not only damaging livelihoods – it is placing a significant strain on the mental health and wellbeing of small business owners who are already under immense pressure.

“Operators want to get back to what they do best but can’t do this with both hands tied behind their back. We need urgent leadership to restore consistency, fairness, and confidence in the system before it is too late.”