Nicola Sturgeon's speech last Tuesday setting out the Scottish government's legislativeprogramme for the year ahead confirmed what was already pretty clear. Scottish councils are settobe the first in the UK with the power to levy charges on visitors，with Edinburgh likely to lead theway.

Tourist tazes are not new. The Himayalan kingdorm of Bhutan has a longstanding polcy ofcharging visitors a daily fee. France's taxe de sejour on overnight stays was introduced to assistthermai spa(温泉)towns to develop, and around half of French local authorities use it today.

But such levies are on the rise.Moves by Barcelona and verice to deal with the phenomenonof"over-tourisrm”through the use of charges have recently gained prorminence.Japan and Greeceare among the countries to have recently introduced tourist taxes.

That the UK lags behind is due to our weak, by international standards, local government,aswell as the opposition to tazes and regulation of our aggressively pro-market ruling party. SomeUKcities have lobbied without success for the power to levy a charge on visitors. Such levies areno universal remedy as the amounts raised would be tiny compared with what has been takenaway by central government since 2010.Still it is to be hoped that the Scottish government's boldmove will prompt others to act.There is no reason why visitors to the UK, or domestic tourists onholiday in hotspots such as Cornwall, should be exempt from taxation-particularly when vital localservices includirng waste collection,park maintenance and arts and culture spending are underunprecedented strain.

On the contrary,compelling tourists to make a financial contribution to the places they visit:beyond their personal consurmption should be part of a wider cultural shift. westerners withdisposable incomes have often behaved as if they have a right to go wherever they choose withlittle regard for the consequences.Just as the environmental harrm caused by aviation and othertransport must corne under far greater scrutiny, the social cost of tourism must also be confronted.This includes the impact of short-term lets on housing costs and quality of lfe for residents.Several European capitals，inchading Paris and Berlin,are leading a campaign for tougherregulation by the European Uraion. It also includes the impact of overcrowding,liter and the kirdsof behaviour associated with noisy parties.

There is no"one size fits all"solution to this problem.The existence of new revenue streamsfor some but not al councis is complicated and businesses are often opposed fearing highercosts will make thern uncorrpetitive. But those places that want therm rrust be given the chance tomake tourist taxes work.

51. What do we leam fron Nicola Sturgeon's speech?