COUNCIL-owned caravan parks at a popular NSW coastal holiday town will
introduce a voluntary $2 'bed tax' on bookings from next year.
Byron Bay councillors have unanimously approved the controversial new
levy, which will be trialled at the 86-site First Sun and 50-site Suffolk
Beachfront Park holiday parks for a year from next July.
Money raised will go into a special fund to "upgrade and beautify" the
seaside holiday destination, which attracts an estimated 1.5 million visitors
annually.
But furious caravanners and other travellers are not impressed and have
already attacked the decision, threatening to give the area a wide berth.
"If they want to raise their fees then just raise their fees and stop
talking nonsense," fumed one.
"Site fees at many caravan parks, particularly on the coast, are already
through the roof ... this is just another increase in disguise,"
complained another.
Many said they would be striking Byron Bay from their travel plans in
protest.
Waterfront powered sites for a couple at the four-star First Sun park
range from $63 a night (off peak) to $98 (peak) while powered sites at
Suffolk Beachfront cost from $38 (off peak) to $58 (peak).
The idea of the voluntary bed tax came from Mayor Simon Richardson, who
said it would give tourists the opportunity to "give a little back" to the
town.
"If they don't, it's okay ... there's no loss to us," he added.
His background notes to the council pointed out that options for receiving
money directly from visitors to Byron Bay had been discussed in length
over the years.
"It is a common myth that council receives a sizable financial benefit
from the millions of tourists that visit Byron Bay," Cr Richardson said.
"In fact, aside from heightened business rates, it receives nothing."
The underlying ideology behind the bed tax initiative, he explained, was
that it supported a transition in society from 'travel to take' to 'travel
to assist' so tourists could put something back while travelling.
Cr Richardson claimed more than 90 percent of visitors would be supportive
of contributing to the area they visited.
"By providing an opportunity to donate and providing information to the
visitors on what the donated money would be spent on gives them a sense of
giving back to the local community and environment," he said.
"Our local community would also benefit from the funds, and may build
relations towards visitors if the community could see the tourist dollar
being directed towards enhancing and maintaining our town."
Cr Richardson maintained that by leading the way in obtaining money to
upgrade and beautify Byron Bay, the council might entice other businesses
to take part in the voluntary visitor contribution scheme.
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