by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 19, 2014 at 1:00 AM
North Okanagan communities back Vernon’s hotel tax for tourism marketing, but they aren’t being asked to participate in the program. The Regional District of North Okanagan is providing a letter of support to the city so it can apply to the provincial government for its hotel tax to be renewed. But the city is not looking to expand the tax beyond its border to other jurisdictions in the area. “There may be an opportunity at a future date but not right now,” said Kevin Poole, the city’s economic development officer, specifically of Silver Star. However, Poole told RDNO directors the city’s tourism marketing program has a broad scope. “Accommodators at Silver Star do not collect the tax. Any other accommodators in Lumby, Enderby and Armstrong do not collect but the attractions in your area benefit,” he said. A two per cent tax is charged on each room booked in Vernon’s hotels and motels and year-to-date until July, the levy has raised $305,167 for tourism marketing, The city’s primary marketing focus is visitors from Alberta and B.C.
1 comment:
Backing the AHRT without participation strikes me as an easy thing to do . You benefit from the efforts of Vernon's tourism function to promote visiting the North Okanagan area but your guests do not have to pay the tax that funds this promotion. Thus your rooms are less expensive and more price competitive than your close neighbours whose guests are paying more tax in their room bill. Pretty good deal for those guests and the room keepers outside the sphere of the AHRT.
Cheers Shawn lee
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