Re: “Hotel industry should invest in staff housing,” comment, July 12.
We appreciate the feedback on this very important issue. As a point of clarity, the tourism industry is not asking for a prohibition on short-term vacation rentals in situations where you are supplementing the mortgage on your primary residence.
As an industry-led organization, Tourism Victoria is a strong advocate for sustainable tourism. In fact, our vision statement mandates that we work for the long-term health and viability of our industry and partners.
To be successful, the tourism industry requires social licence from our community. We need the public on our side and, in fact, a key goal of our work is to create tangible benefits for our community. This includes helping pay for infrastructure, such as the David Foster Pathway, and doing our part to cover the costs of services such as garbage collection through commercial property taxes.
The grey economy is a serious concern, as it undercuts legitimate industry and results in an unfair playing field and can do real damage to our community.
Housing is a vitally important issue in Greater Victoria. There is a shortage of available, affordable homes for students and workers due in large part to housing stock being used for short-term vacation rentals.
With vacancy rates at 0.5 per cent in Victoria, the city is facing a very real rental-housing crisis. This affects people of any age in every industry.
This is not simply a hotel problem. One of the most pressing issues is the disruption in the quality of life being reported by people living next to unregulated short-term vacation rentals, particularly in strata buildings. In fact, affected homeowners have been the most vocal in calling for regulations that limit where short-term vacation rentals are permitted.
Victoria has a wide range of hotels and motels that appeal to all levels of consumer demand. The sector is within the Canadian average. In fact, for many years, our region’s accommodation prices were low and unhealthy compared to similar destinations.
Hotels and motels pay taxes, fees and above-the-table wages, as well as operating in compliance with WorkSafe B.C. All we are asking is that short-term vacation rentals operate on a level playing field.
Paul Nursey is president and CEO of Tourism Victoria.
