Tourists are opting to stay in motorhomes parked on Edinburgh streets as a way to avoid the city's escalating accommodation costs and a newly implemented visitor levy, according to reports.
Up to a dozen motorhomes have been observed parked on Fettes Avenue, an area chosen for its affordable parking rates. Daily parking costs £11.20 on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with overnight parking being free. This strategy allows visitors to bypass the city's new 5% visitor levy, which applies to overnight stays in self-catering apartments, hotels, and bed and breakfasts for the first five consecutive nights. While those staying at caravan and camping sites also pay the levy, individuals in motorhomes parked on streets with no overnight charges are exempt.
Fiona Campbell, chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, stated that the influx of campervans coincides with the Edinburgh Festivals. She attributed this trend to stringent short-term let regulations that have reduced accommodation supply and driven up hotel prices. Campbell also noted that the new visitor levy further incentivizes budget-conscious visitors to seek alternative arrangements, suggesting that these motorhome visitors are not contributing to the levy that other guests are required to pay.
Even accounting for a potential parking fine of £50 if paid within a fortnight, the overall cost of staying in a motorhome remains significantly lower than traditional accommodation options, especially given the current high fees for hotels and other lodgings in the capital.