The Highland Council is to launch a public consultation on a proposed Visitor Levy, which could raise around nine million pounds a year to support tourism, communities and visitor services.
Councillors have approved a draft scheme based on a fixed charge per room or area, per night, rather than a percentage of accommodation costs.
The 12-week consultation is expected to begin in early September, allowing residents, businesses and communities to have their say.
The Council stresses that no decision has been made to introduce the levy, with feedback helping shape any final proposal.
Ullapool Book Festival is to hold its final ever event in memory of committee member Catriona Martin, who died last November.
The festival built a national reputation for its literary line-ups and will sign off in October with a discussion featuring Belfast-born author Bernard MacLaverty.
He will discuss his latest collection, ‘Blank Pages and Other Stories’, in an event chaired by the festival’s honorary president, Chris Dolan.
MacLaverty moved to Scotland in 1975 and has published five novels and six collections of short stories.
His best-known works include Cal and Lamb.
Highland Council Buses is upgrading ticketing technology across its fleet, with new machines now installed on half its buses.
The technology will provide real-time vehicle information, helping passengers access more accurate journey updates through apps and bus-stop displays.
It will also allow the council to monitor service performance and punctuality, helping identify reliability issues.
Ross County and Inverness Caley Thistle are both in action this afternoon.
Caley Thistle has an away game in the Championship against Stenhousemuir, kicking off at 3 o'clock.
County's home match in League One against East Kilbride starts at 5.30 and is being televised live on BBC Alba.
