The Municipal and Regional District Tax (previously known as the Additional Hotel Room Tax) is a 2% tax levied on guests staying at hotels, motels, and other designated accommodations within the city. Following an extensive community consultation process, the Salmon Arm 5-year MRDT business plan was created and endorsed by area accommodators and tourism stakeholders and approved by the Province of British Columbia. This revenue will be used to support and expand tourism programs, tourism projects, and tourism marketing for Salmon Arm. The goal of the program is to increase the number of visitors to our community, ultimately supporting the growth of our tourism businesses.
The vision of the Salmon Arm Municipal and Regional District Tax program is that Salmon Arm and the broader Shuswap region will be recognized as an all-season destination of choice for visitors from around the world. The primary focus of the program is shoulder and off-season tourism development which will be achieved by working collaboratively with partner organizations. Success for this program will be measured through increased accommodation occupancy rates.
The City of Salmon Arm is the lead MRDT applicant and has entered into a Third Party Service Agreement with Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) to administer the MRDT program on its behalf. An MRDT Committee has been formed by SAEDS, comprising tourism stakeholders who will directly oversee the implementation of the MRDT program in Salmon Arm.
1. Marketing Support - For further information, direct questions to contact person listed below.
2. Event Planning Support - For further information, direct questions to contact person listed below.
3. Event Funding Support - In alignment with the MRDT program goals, a small grant fund has been established to assist community organizations hosting events in Salmon Arm. The MRDT Committee will consider all applications received throughout the year at bi-monthly meetings.
A primary decision - Making factor for funding allocation is the attraction of out-of-town visitors who are likely to require overnight stays, during the shoulder seasons.
*It is recognized that events may arise during the course of a year, that don't align with MRDT meeting dates. Under special circumstances, applications that require review before a scheduled committee meeting can be considered for an impromptu vote by committee members. This is determined by the committee members, and requires the availability of voting members.