Tourism Surcharge in Niagara Falls Canada
Check this out: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/niagara-falls-tourist-fees-collected-with-little-oversight-1.1226724 .... then check your bills when purchasing goods or services in Niagara Falls, ...
Forum Discussion
This is wider than a Hotel Tax - it is a Destination Marketing Fee that can be charged by the full range of tourism establishments in the city (not all businesses charge the fee).
It is supposed to be a voluntary tax - there is not a requirement to pay - but it seems it is up to the consumer to be aware of the tax and to ask for it to not be included.
Niagara Falls is a crazy busy place - often criticized for extensive tourism sprawl - it is probably the one tourism destination in all of Canada that should be rich enough to not require any extra tax.
To add insult to injury - in Niagara Falls there is no tracking of the revenues collected - no one knows what happens after the funds are collected - no one knows how the funds are expended.
Can't say I have ever heard of this kind of broad destination tax before - probably wouldn't mind paying it in more depressed tourism areas but here it feels sneaky and underhanded.
Even one of the city councillors that opposes the tax says "it is just not right - people are being hoodwinked into paying something they don't have to pay."
Jay
It is supposed to be a voluntary tax - there is not a requirement to pay - but it seems it is up to the consumer to be aware of the tax and to ask for it to not be included.
Niagara Falls is a crazy busy place - often criticized for extensive tourism sprawl - it is probably the one tourism destination in all of Canada that should be rich enough to not require any extra tax.
To add insult to injury - in Niagara Falls there is no tracking of the revenues collected - no one knows what happens after the funds are collected - no one knows how the funds are expended.
Can't say I have ever heard of this kind of broad destination tax before - probably wouldn't mind paying it in more depressed tourism areas but here it feels sneaky and underhanded.
Even one of the city councillors that opposes the tax says "it is just not right - people are being hoodwinked into paying something they don't have to pay."
Jay
