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GOLDEN – The Town of Golden and the City of Rossland have each signed a Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing agreement with the Province, allowing them to share a portion of the hotel room tax to invest in local resort-oriented projects and programs, Community Services Minister Ida Chong has announced.
“Resort municipalities have unique demands and a limited tax base, but with this agreement these communities now also have additional resources to bring to life new local projects and amenities,” said Chong, while attending the Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments convention. “We are pleased to welcome Golden and Rossland as the second and third B.C. municipalities to sign agreements with the Province, which is transferring millions of dollars to resort communities, helping to make them even more attractive places to live and visit.”
All agreements are based on a
Resort Development Strategy that each community prepares and endorses based on
broad stakeholder input. Under the agreement, it is estimated that Golden and
area will receive $2.25 million, over five years, to help implement a
comprehensive signage strategy; design and construct visitor amenity hubs; plan
and construct a vibrant Community Square; expand and broaden the current
mosaics program, plan and implement a revitalization and winterizing of the
municipal campground; and develop and implement plans for green spaces and
paths. It is anticipated that, with
these investments, there will be increases in occupancy rates, visitor
satisfaction levels and local retail sales.
Rossland will receive an estimated $70,000, over five years, through the program, to invest in downtown beautification projects and signage, resulting in increased visitor satisfaction.
Under the program, an eligible community receives a
share of the provincial hotel room tax, an amount based on a formula that takes into account the
level of tourist accommodation in the community, relative to other B.C.
communities. To be eligible, municipalities must have
tourism economies or be designated as a “mountain resort municipality” under
the Local Government Act. Communities must be prepared to put in place an
additional two per cent hotel room tax, prepare a Resort Development Strategy
which reflects the input of stakeholders and enter into a five-year
results-based tourism development agreement that sets out what will be achieved
through revenue sharing.
In late March, Whistler became the first community to take part in the program; ten other municipalities are currently eligible to enter into agreements: Fernie, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Tofino, Ucluelet and Valemount.
The Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing program is part of the Province’s ongoing commitment to meeting the goal of doubling B.C. tourism by 2015.
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Ministry of Community Services 250 889-1295 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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