Visitors to Edinburgh will be charged a tourist tax designed to raise £50m annually, after city councillors voted in favour of the move. The charge, which mimics those already used in Germany, Spain and Italy,

A five per cent charge will be levied on hotels, B&Bs, campsites and accommodation let through websites such as Airbnb

Local politicians in Edinburgh have approved a tourist tax for visitors staying overnight the Scottish capital, introducing the first charge of its kind in the United Kingdom.

The plans being considered by the City of Edinburgh Council would see overnight tourists charged a 5% levy - which the council has said could raise £50m a year.

Edinburgh has become the first council in Scotland to approve a visitor levy. Councillors voted in favour of introducing the measure, which will see a charge introduced on those staying in overnight accommodation throughout the capital, at a special meeting on Friday.