AirBnB will contribute £5 to local causes in Edinburgh for every booking made in the Capital during August in an effort to “rebalance tourism”.
The firm’s Edinburgh Community Fund has been established in place of a tourist tax or ‘transient visitor levy’ after SNP plans to introduce a charge for visitors to the city were shelved during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Edinburgh International Festival bosses unveiled a scaled-down version of their summer programme for later this year, while the Festival Fringe is also to go ahead in a reduced capacity.
Short-term lets have been slammed for forcing locals out of the Capital and contributing to a citywide shortage in housing with hundreds of properties being bought up by the sector.
Residents have been subjected to anti-social behaviour by some visitors, while landlords have had ‘party flats’ wrecked by callous tourists.
AirBNB was subject to criticism during part of the pandemic when hundreds of listings appeared on its website despite hard travel restrictions remaining in place.
However, the company says it is now seeking to bring equilibrium back to Edinburgh’s tourism sector, according to The Herald.
The fund will be used to back local projects and community organisations and will be fully managed by 'hosts'.
Amanda Cupples, general manager for northern Europe at Airbnb, said: “We are determined to do our part to help rebalance tourism in Scotland and to ensure that the return of travel is safe, sustainable and benefits everyone.
“The Edinburgh Community Fund will highlight how each stay can contribute to Edinburgh’s recovery from the pandemic in addition to the money earned by local Hosts or spent by guests in the community.”
