The District of Tofino’s Application for Municipal and Regional District Tax Program (MRDT) Increase Approved

3% Tax Rate on Accommodation Purchases Effective June 1, 2017

Tofino, BC, December 16, 2016 – The District of Tofino, along with the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tofino, today announced that its application to increase the Municipal and Regional District Tax (formerly the Additional Hotel Room Tax or AHRT) on accommodation purchases from 2% to 3% has been approved by the Province of British Columbia effective June 1, 2017.

At present, marketing and promotion of Tofino as a visitor destination is led by Tourism Tofino utilizing resources derived primarily from MRDT funds collected by accommodation providers with four or more rooms, and supplemented by cooperative stakeholder and partner initiatives. According to Tourism Tofino, the additional 1% tax will be used to replace the aging Visitor Center at Cox Bay with a more modern facility capable of efficiently welcoming the tens of thousands of visitors requiring information about local businesses and services each year.

“The District of Tofino is very pleased that our application to increase the MRDT to 3% has been approved,” said Tofino Mayor, Josie Osborne. “The additional funds mean that our community will be much better equipped to provide important information services to our valued visitors year-round.”

BACKGROUND

Tofino’s tourism economy has experienced measurable growth in both hotel room occupancy and average nightly rates in the past 5 years. Tofino currently receives the 2% MRDT from the District of Tofino, the eligible entity. The purpose of the tax is to fund marketing programs and projects. MRDT funds are intended to augment current funding and cannot be used to replace existing sources of funding within a community. The MRDT tax program is intended to contribute to an increase in local tourism revenue, visitation, and economic benefits and is supported by local government and tourism stakeholders. Jointly administered by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Destination British Columbia, the MRDT program principles include:

• Effective tourism marketing programs and projects
• Effective local-level stakeholder support and inter-community collaboration
• Marketing efforts that are coordinated and complementary to provincial marketing strategies and tactics
• Fiscal prudence and accountability

Participation in the MRDT tax program also provides access to Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funds available from the Province of British Columbia. In 2015, for example, Tofino received more than $635,000 in RMI funds.

About Tofino

Tofino is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Tofino typifies the majesty of the Pacific Northwest, boasting flawless natural beauty accentuated by a tapestry of vibrant communities. With a resident population of just under 2,000, Tofino is home to a thriving local food scene producing innovative, boat-to-table cuisine. The area also inspires many renowned artists, artisans and makers who capture the magic of the area in their works. Tofino’s mild year-round coastal climate summons outdoor enthusiasts and curious travellers from all corners of the Earth.

About the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (TLBCC) tofinochamber.org

The Chamber lobbies on behalf of its membership, educates the community about business issues, and exposes the public to our thriving business environment. The TLBCC’s mission is to actively represent the vast spectrum of businesses in Tofino by offering a range of programs, services and networking opportunities for our members; through the development of policies on and being strong advocates for social issues; and by promoting the stewardship of the environment of Clayoquot Sound.

About Tourism Tofino www.tourismtofino.com

Tourism Tofino is a destination management organization (DMO) promoting Tofino’s extensive attributes, local events and hospitality industry businesses. Tourism Tofino also partners with other tourism organizations to create awareness of regional tourism initiatives for visitors worldwide.

Media Contact

Lynda Kaye
Kaye Public Relations for Tourism Tofino
lynda@kayepr.com
250.266.5293