ADDITIONAL
HOTEL ROOM TAX APPROVED FOR JANUARY 1, 2004
KELOWNA,
BC — Tourism Kelowna
is pleased to announce that the Provincial Government has recently
approved the implementation of a 2% additional hotel room tax for the City
of Kelowna, effective January 1, 2004.
The
2% additional tax will be collected on sales of accommodation within the
City of Kelowna’s jurisdictional boundaries. This is a municipal tax
that required the approval of the City and the Province to implement.
City of Kelowna Bylaw No. 9053 stipulates that these funds will be
applied to destination marketing programs that are developed and
administered by Tourism Kelowna and reviewed by City Council on an annual
basis. There are currently 15 communities in British Columbia collecting
this tax.
“Tourism Kelowna’s mandate is to generate demand for Kelowna, thereby increasing tourist visitation. These funds will provide us with the ability to amplify Kelowna’s marketing impact and competitiveness,” states Nancy Cameron, Tourism Kelowna Manager. “The marketing funds raised through this tax will be used to promote Kelowna as a world-class travel destination. Destination branding, positioning and hence, wide-ranging recognition will be achieved through the tactical marketing of the depth and quality of tourist experiences offered in Kelowna and area.”
The Tourism Advisory Council, an elected group of 15 tourism industry stakeholders that is responsible for advising on and approving the use of the funds, began an implementation strategy in August 2002. In June 2003, Tourism Kelowna made a presentation to Kelowna City Council requesting that a bylaw be implemented to allow the additional hotel room tax to be collected.
The
new source of funding generated by tourists will be used for destination
marketing programs designed to increase tourism business for Kelowna
attractions, accommodations and services. The tax could generate an
estimated $1.2 million annually for the marketing fund.
MORE…
“Kelowna
is a truly unique tourism destination with a diversity of landscapes,
activities and attractions
unlike
any other on the continent and that message needs to be promoted to all of
our target markets in Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Western
United States, across Canada and beyond,” notes Bill Eager, Chair of the
Tourism Advisory Council. “In
order to accomplish this in a meaningful way, these additional marketing
funds are necessary to effectively get our message out both nationally and
internationally, and as a result, our local tourism industry grows in an
economically viable way.”
Tourism
Kelowna is a division of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, a member driven
organization representing 1,500 Kelowna and area businesses.
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For
more information call:
Jan
Bauman, Public Relations
Kelowna
Chamber/Tourism Kelowna
(250)
861-1515 ext. 29
Bill
Eager, Chair
Tourism
Advisory Council
(250)
317-3359
