Edinburgh Fringe venue paid £60k tourist levy, founder urges reinvestment

Assembly founder William Burdett-Coutts says visitor levy funds need a "turn in direction," revealing his Edinburgh Fringe venue has paid £60,000 toward the tax this summer. At Assembly’s gala launch, he urged the council to "start putting some back" for all businesses and landlords benefiting, noting venues "just stretch along" despite generating fortune. The 5% accommodation tax began last month. A Festivals Edinburgh study estimates festivals generate £852 million for Scotland's economy. Fringe chief Tony Lankester says festivals see none of the levy; EIF director Nicola Benedetti called for a fair conversation. The council defends the tax as reinvestment.