The survey generated nearly 4,000 responses over Christmas and New Year. Residents and community groups are keen to see revenue reinvested into public services like street cleaning. Business groups favour funding for marketing and industry support, while all agree the levy should be simple to administer and protect Edinburgh’s heritage and culture.

The findings, mirroring six years of council research, will be presented to councillors on the policy and sustainability committee on tomorrow. The same day, the Scottish Parliament’s local government committee will debate amendments to allow councils like Edinburgh to implement visitor levies.

With plans well-developed, Edinburgh is poised to become the UK’s first city to formally adopt a visitor levy, if the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill passes this Spring/Summer.

City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh has been lobbying the Scottish Government for more than a decade for the local powers to introduce a visitor levy. Finally, we are edging closer to this long-called for legislation.

“Throughout the years, we have repeatedly and actively engaged with our tourism and hospitality industry, as well as with residents, seeking views at various stages on the type of visitor levy Edinburgh needs. At every turn, we’ve had overwhelming backing at a community level and have witnessed growing support from those in the tourism and hospitality industry. This is only building as we head towards the last Parliamentary hurdle.”

He continued: “Edinburgh has an enviable reputation across the world as a bucket list destination and just this week was crowned Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination at the World Travel Awards and listed as the best city in Scotland to live in, visit and invest.

“We’re very proud that Edinburgh is one of the world’s most popular visitor destinations, but we’re equally aware that this success comes at a cost.

“A small overnight charge is common practice in other major cities and destinations, so why not here? The introduction of a levy will provide a funding stream that would be reinvested in the city and our infrastructure, to the benefit of our visitors and, crucially, the people who live here in our great Capital city all year round.”

Mr Day concluded: “While I welcome how far the Bill has come, I also echo the concerns shared by COSLA last week that it needs to allow visitor levies to be more flexible and quicker for councils to roll out.

“Now that Edinburgh is ready to lead the introduction, I hope to see these adopted in the amendments Members of Parliament debate next week.”