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Tourism development
Find out more about the draft Visitor Management Plan, and give your views at orkney.gov.uk/vmp
Tourism is vital to Orkney's economy. We work closely with Orkney.com and the Orkney Tourism Group to promote and develop the industry.
Orkney.com
We help fund Orkney.com, the official website promoting tourism, food and drink, creative industries and life in Orkney, alongside Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Visitor levy
Orkney has a population of around 22,500 people and welcomes approximately 450,000 visitors a year, who contribute more than £114 million to the local economy. Tourism growth brings benefits, but also puts pressure on public services, infrastructure, and the natural and cultural environment.
The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 gives local authorities the power to introduce a visitor levy on overnight stays, to help fund facilities and services used by visitors.
Our position
In September 2025, our Policy and Resources Committee decided not to introduce an overnight visitor levy in Orkney at this time. We continue to engage with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders on alternative levy models that may be better suited to island communities.
Cruise ship levy
Separately, the Scottish Government has been considering whether to give local authorities the power to introduce a cruise ship levy. A public consultation on this closed in 2025, and the Scottish Government published its analysis of responses in March 2026. No decision has yet been made on whether this power will be introduced.
Related resources
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Visitor Levy Feasibility Study
This document contains a report on the feasibility of introducing a visitor levy in Orkney under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024. It explains that the levy could charge a percentage of overnight accommodation costs to fund visitor-related facilities and services, while setting out required consultation, exemptions and reporting. The Council is asked to approve stakeholder engagement and a cost-benefit analysis, fund external advice costing up to £20,000, and receive findings by June 2025; any scheme would be unlikely to start before summer 2027.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Orkney Visitor Levy committee report
This document contains a report on whether Orkney should introduce an overnight visitor levy on accommodation. It summarises research, public and business views, and financial modelling, which found strong opposition and only modest benefits at levy rates of 5% or more. The Policy and Resources Committee is asked not to progress the levy now, while continuing discussions on fairer alternatives, including charges on cruise passengers or all visitors entering Orkney.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Our response to the Cruise Ship Levy Consultation
This document contains Orkney Islands Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a possible cruise ship levy in Scotland. It supports giving local authorities the power to introduce a levy, with charges based on passenger numbers, collected by shipping agents and set locally. The response says revenue should support facilities and services used by cruise passengers and communities, supports a wider point of entry levy for islands, and proposes crew exemptions, an 18-month implementation period and penalties for non-payment.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024(opens in new tab)
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VisitScotland guidance on the visitor levy for local authorities(opens in new tab)