Tourism Surcharge in Niagara Falls Canada

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

Gary, to be honest I had never experienced this in all my years of traveling throughout N-America during my working life. I've been to 44 states and 9 provinces and cannot recall ever seeing such a charge. It must be something relatively new or hidden under some other form within things like hotel invoices etc...

... Eric

If one were to read that actual article, one would see that the charge is very common through-out North America. Not just in Niagara. The problem with Niagara was that the money is not accounted for thru a central collection, but instead goes into the till of the operation charging it and is spent as they see fit.


Gary Haupt

Bad idea and it turns us away. They need to rethink this one.

Remind me to stay away from Niagara Falls! :E

I don't think it's as bad as the mandatory 15% hotel tax in the surrounding area where I live. And there's not even any great attractions here.

The latest information on this will be shown in a CBC Marketplace Documentary being aired tonight:

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2014-2015/money-tips-stash-your-cash

(.... sorry - don't know how to do the "clicky" thingy .....)

The key things here:

- it should show up on your bills as an extra charge
- you may not be told that it is a voluntary "tax"
- you have the right to ask for it back


Jay

Here's is the quick way into the article.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/niagara-falls-tourist-fees-collected-with-little-oversight-1.1226724

And the reading of it just pee's me off so bad. The writer also makes the comment that it is a common practice through-out North America. That many cities and organizations collect this 'tax'. The issue in Niagara seems to be that the money just stays in the till of the collector, not going into a fund to pay for marketing plans, etc.

But, in all cases, it is not a mentioned nor discussed tax on your receipt..it is just there. Man, that just drives me nuts.



Gary Haupt