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Council supports Hotel Tax

Tax would go to marketing local tourism in the Cariboo Chilcotin and Coast region

The 100 Mile House District Council is sending a letter of support for the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association's (CCCTA) proposed Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) to add 3 per cent to hotel room bills to market tourism in the region. The decision to support the proposal was finalized at the March 14 council meeting after being proposed and presented to council on Jan. 24 (see 100 Mile Free Press on Feb. 2).

The CCCTA now has letters of support from the District of 100 Mile House, the Regional District of Frazer Ford George, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and from the Central Coast Regional District, says Amy Thacker, CEO of the CCCTA.

Outstanding are the District of Lillooet, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (who have pressed a motion of support), the Cariboo Regional District will review it this Friday (March 24) and Williams Lake City Council meets on March 28, she says.

"We're hopeful that the timeline hasn't changed. There are definitely lot's of great questions from our elected officials and strong support for the industry utilizing the MRDT as a tool to shift the status quo, but we are still on target to wrap up this consultation by the end of the month unless we run into some surprise along the way" she says.

Thacker says, 75 per cent of the rooms have now signed on for the Cariboo Regional District and 65 per cent for the entire Cariboo Chilcotin Coast area.

"From my personal perspective, I think we have overwhelming industry support. For the initiative it's been a very unique and interesting process and I think it's a substantial opportunity to shift the marketing playing field for our regional operators and the signature support is reflecting that."