RIVERSIDE-ALBERT, N.B. – The president of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick says the provincial government needs to speed up work to bring in a tourism marketing fund.
The Fund would be raised through a three per cent levy on certain accommodations throughout the province.
“We’re trying to be proactive to where we can think outside of the box and where can we help our government to market our product,” said Kathy Weir, the association’s president.
Weir says a legislated levy raised would inject at least $6 million into the industry’s advertising and development.
“Our operators have to make changes for whatever reasons,” she said. “The economy or environment or whatever and when they recognize opportunity they have to react very quickly.”
But after years of discussion, the levy still hasn’t been legislated. Tourism Minister Bill Fraser says making the levy into law takes time.
“One of the challenges was the previous government had legislation in place that wouldn’t allow a fund to go in place with out a vote from the public because it would be considered a tax,” he said. “That hurdle’s been taken away because that legislation has been repealed.”
Despite the challenges, he says the levy could be in place by next summer.
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