STA response to Scottish Government announcement on regulation of short term lets
The Scottish Tourism Alliance recognises and fully supports the introduction of a mechanism to ensure that all operating in the short-term letting (STL) sector do so in a safe and compliant way, and that this is measured and regulated in a consistent way similar to the measures and monitoring of those who operate in the B&B and hotel sectors.
We are also in principle, supportive of the introduction of a sensible and fair licence scheme to help ensure that there is the right balance and blend of accommodation where in city and rural hot spots, particularly where there is risk of over provision of tourism accommodation stock, and an imbalance of the right accommodation mix.
For Scotland to achieve its future vision; to be the World Leader in 21st Century Tourism, it is vital that there is the right balance of quality short term let accommodation, B&Bs, hostels, caravan and camping sites, holiday parks and hotels throughout the country, particularly in areas of popularity to cater for the modern day and future traveller. It is also a fact from global insights that there is an increase in travellers who prefer to stay short term let accommodation both for reasons of affordability or wanting to be self-sufficient and enjoy a more immersive ‘live like a local’ experience.
It would therefore be hugely disappointing and pose a significant risk to local and national tourism economic growth if a Local Authority’s approach to licencing were to be heavy handed, restricting the allocation of property licences for STL type accommodation without careful and considered evaluation to the wider impacts in the local area, especially where there is evidence of increasing demand for this type of accommodation.
A Local Authority should and must not ignore the fact that having the right blend of accommodation type and allowing for all tourism business to grow in a responsible and sustainable way will be for the economic benefit to the whole destination and all who live the local economy
There would also be a significant risk to the STL sector if an authority set the licencing fees at a level that were unaffordable for the majority of those wishing to provide this type of accommodation, potentially forcing the closure of those who are already operating in a safe and compliant way of which there are many, particularly those who are members of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers (ASSC)
Equally, we would hope that Local Authorities do not view this decision to licence STL’s as simply another means to generate revenue to counter local budget shortfall.
We would strongly recommend that before any such licencing scheme is introduced that it is developed in an open and transparent way with the principal industry accommodation trade bodies in Scotland , especially the ASSC.
