Edinburgh councillors have voted to back a £2-per-night tourist tax.
The Scottish parliament now needs to pass enabling legislation to allow the levy to be imposed, which is unlikely to happen before next year.
The Scottish capital would become the first local authority in the UK to introduce such a scheme, if the council gets the power.
The Edinburgh transient visitor levy proposals include a £2-per-night charge added to the price of any room for the first week of a stay.
It would apply to all accommodation, including Airbnb-style short-term lets.
Councillors in Edinburgh backed the plans by 43 votes to 15.
The tax could raise as much as £14.6 million a year and be capped at seven nights.
The aim is to help pay for the costs of mass tourism in the Scottish capital, which is estimated to attract more than four million visitors a year.
The levy would apply to “all paid accommodation” across Edinburgh, including hotels, B&Bs, short-term lets and hostels.