Creating jobs for Islanders -
David Groom will save nearly $800 over the next three years thanks to lower licensing fees for tourism accommodation operators.
The longtime Summerside hotel and restaurant owner is among more than 1,500 operators across the province who will end-up with more money in their pockets. The 20 percent licensing fee reduction is possible partly because the number of Island tourism operations has increased in recent years.
“This is great news for the industry and I applaud government for the decision,” Groom said. “This fee reduction will allow operators like me to invest more in our properties and our marketing to help drive more visitors to our province.”
Tourism is incredibly important to the provincial economy. The industry provides over 7,700 full time equivalent jobs for Islanders and contributes 6.4 percent of the total GDP, which is the highest percentage of any province in Canada.
“Tourism is an incredibly competitive industry," Economic Development and Tourism Minister Chris Palmer said, "and this is a great way to support operators who want to improve their products or their marketing to bring more people to the Island.”
“We are pleased to be able to support the reduction of licensing fees," said QTS chair Keith Samuel, whose company performs inspections of Island tourism accommodations that are paid for by the licensing fees. "It will provide a bit of a break to tourism accommodation operators for 2019 and beyond.”
Media contact:
Andrew Sprague
asgsprague@gov.pe.ca
Backgrounder
| Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inspection fees:
New property fee Re-inspection fee |
$265 $250 |
$180 $250 |
$180 $250 |
$180 $250 |
|
Fixed roof fees:
1 to 4 units 5 or more units |
$218 $328 plus $8.50/unit |
$155 $250 plus $6.50/unit |
$155 $250 plus $6.50/unit |
$155 $250 plus $6.50/per unit |
|
Campground fees:
1 to 100 sites 101 to 500 sites 251 to 500 sites 501 plus sites |
$246 $355 $382 $491 |
$210 $300 $325 $415 |
$210 $300 $325 $415 |
$210 $300 $325 $415 |