Town of Perc says tourists need to pay their dues

Every year,half a million people visit Perc, Que. a town on the eastern edge of the Gasp Peninsula to go whale watching in Forillon National Park, swimin Rivire-aux-meraudes or soak in the saltwater spray fromthe beach and boardwalk facingthe town's namesake:amassivepierced rock sitting in the Gulf ofSt. Lawrence.

Town manager Jean-FranoisKacou says it costs Perc a lot of money to maintain its tourist offerings and infrastructure while also developing new attractions. Rather than further taxing its residents,the municipality has decided to pass on some of that cost to visitors.

"At the end of the day, we have 3,500 citizens that are carrying the Perc rock on their back," said Kacou.

"That's why we've come up with this solution that we think is fair and reasonable for citizens and also tourists," he said.

The new regulation,set to be approved at a council meeting on Sept. 28, will be enforced by local merchants andcome into effectat the beginning of May, 2022. Restaurants, tourist attractions and souvenir shops will add a $1 fee for non-residents to everytransaction over $10 and hotel stays for tourists will cost an additional $1 per night.

Provincially and federally regulated itemslike tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and gas will be exempt from the added fees. Kacou says Perc hopes to bring in an additional $1.5 million in revenue every year.

"When you see our budget it'svery difficult to reach the end...without taxing residents," he said.

"Basically we're charging visitors because we have a tremendous amount of infrastructure...maintenance costs and operation expenses."

Local hotel ownerJean-Franois Gagn says he would have preferred aformal tax, similar to what's in place in destinationslike Mont-Tremblant, butsays he's on board with the idea overall.

Gagn ownsAubergeau Pic de l'Aurore, on the Gasp's main highway, and he's confident the one dollar increase won't drive anyone away.

"The thing about tourist attractions you must improve every year, people are expecting more," he said.

"It's not something that will make you decide not to come to Perc. and we'll have more to offer them with thehelp of that dollar."

Kacou agrees and saysthe new policy is about creating arelationship of reciprocity between Perc and those who love to visit.

"You love us? We love you too, but we want to give you new services and improve the quality of your visit."