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Good for tourism ? - 3/15/2010 7:45:55 AM

Aneirin

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I live in one of those areas of my country where the water rates are very high, in fact one of if not the highest in the country, then we have the local taxation, which again is high for such a financially poor area, the question is always asked why are the prices we have to pay so high, the answer is, it is good for tourism, we need to encourage people to come here and spend their money, so good for business. I just have to ask what exactly does that mean, as when the grockles come they block up the roads swamp the town and leave litter all over the beaches. They actually hinder resident activity in the place where they live, but it's good for business, residents don't matter, money is either being made by them being here, or the illusion is that there is good business.

So given the hassles from the tourists, their impact on the residents of an area, what comes first the people who live in a place, or the visitors that come and get as much as they can from it ? The so called good business is not for the vast majority of residents, it is in fact a hindrance and in some ways an extra financial burden, the taxes and water bills we have to pay, for others.

Given the fact water as a resource is getting rarer, should tourists to areas pay towards that area's up keep, or should they continue to take as they please and let the residents pick up the tab ?

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RE: Good for tourism ? - 3/15/2010 7:48:24 AM

Smutmonger

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No,only increase taxes on the venues that cater to them-passing on the expenses. Also charge fees to the same venues to cover the costs of cleaning up after them.

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RE: Good for tourism ? - 3/15/2010 9:36:45 AM

Aneirin

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A good idea except what facilities that exist for tourists, the residents also use, so in effect they will again be paying for the grockles.

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RE: Good for tourism ? - 3/15/2010 10:13:09 AM

juliaoceania

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I would have to have more information to answer how much the burden should be put on residents or tourists....

For one, how many jobs does tourism add to the community?
What kind of jobs do they add?
What businesses profit? Are small businesses profiting as well as large corporations?
Does tourism provide sales tax or other taxes to the community?
Does tourism add revenue from tourists activity from fees? Like camping fees, convention hall fees, etc?

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RE: Good for tourism ? - 3/15/2010 10:33:52 AM

LadyEllen

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Your problem A, is one I can infer from your OP - low employment other than during tourist season and an economy reliant on it. Youre also in an area of the country with a low native population density, which still has to be serviced in its entirety by the councils, water and other utilities.

Consequently, in dividing up the costs of providing clean running water (for instance) throughout the regiom, you are going to have a higher charge per person than somewhere like here, with a higher population density. And since the tourist season is half the year only but you want water (et al) all year round, there are charges, all year round.

However, you are wrong if you believe that the tourists dont pay a contribution - whether it is a fair one or not is another argument. Everywhere the tourists stay, including caravan parks, has to pay substantially higher charges than a household should and these extra charges find their way into the fees paid. My parents' caravan in north Wales (where one could drink water coming off the mountain a half mile away) has a £1000-00 per annum charge for water service supply, plus other charges for electric, TV and so on - this finds its way into what my parents charge others who want to use the caravan, or my parents have to pay it themselves.

Are tourists a major pain in the ass? Absolutely, and I empathise as we're overrun with 0121s, 0384s and 0902s every summer too, with the only consolation being that theyre directed one way round the ring road, so we natives can go the other way to avoid the miles of jams. But they also generate employment - most of it seasonal and taken by youngsters and students admittedly, but around a quarter is full time - wild animals need feeding all year round, as steam engines, forests, fisheries and so on need similar year round attention. Given the industrial destruction and decline here, we need them grockles, however annoying they are.

E

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RE: Good for tourism ? - 3/16/2010 6:20:26 PM

DesFIP

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Also living in a highly tourist area at certain times of the year, visitors pay taxes for everything they buy. What they don't do is use services very often. It is rare that a tourist requires a fire truck, a police officer, use of the school system for their children, increased postal costs for delivery to more houses etc. They pay parking fees and those fees go for upkeep. They keep local restaurants and shopkeepers in business.

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