Readers respond to yesterday’s story that Tourism Minister Leon Bignell is discussing the possibilty of a ‘bed tax’ on hotel rooms to fund tourism promotion in South Australia.
MIKE SMITH: How can we encourage tourists?
I know, lets make it more expensive for them to stay here!
Bzzt, wrong!
RICK NEAGLE, Dignity for Disability President: Adelaide City Council and the SA Government should be applauded for their partnership with Internode to increase the free wi-fi network within Adelaide’s CBD. Perhaps this could link in with an idea expressed in another InDaily story, the mooted bed tax for city hotels.
Australian capital city hotels are notorious for exorbitant charges to use the internet, and this is certainly not welcoming to visitors who might just want to check something as simple as an Adelaide Metro timetable, movie session times or cellar door opening times. Can we find a way to promote the provision of a service (free wifi) to people staying in city hotels and ask the hotel sector to embed the cost into the room rate and then charge them an annual subscription fee? Whilst overall a bed tax is not an attractive option, if there is a structure that can be put in place that will promote something that other cities don’t have (a fabulous wi-fi network that hotel guests can access) then it could yield the desired result of creating a pool of funding for tourism promotion.
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MARK NELSON: This is another form of revenue raising. Of course the hotels won’t pay this – it will be passed onto the consumer, who is already under enormous pressure to cope with other cost of living increases. How much more money does the government think we all have?
This ridiculous proposal hasn’t got legs in any other state – so what makes anyone think it will here?
BEV SMITH-TRIM: What a crazy idea this is. Why not shut the state up completely as no-one will come here if our accommodation is dearer than other places. Cost of food etc is dearer here than in the UK (heard this on radio today), so if a bed tax is introduced as well, the tourists will stop coming.
JAMES BELL: Wake up government – tone down your inappropriate spending and start to care about the future of this state and its people.
When will our leaders realise that the more taxes they impose, the less attractive SA is for investors – whether they be property investors or business in general. Less business, means less employment, means less money being spent, means less GST revenue.
I for one will soon leave this god-forsaken state for greener pastures. Can’t imagine I’m alone in that choice.
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