Steep fee increase for tourism companies

Tourism operatorsare facingsteep increases this fall in the fees they pay for licensing and accreditation. Some of the fees are rising 100 per cent ormore, meaning added costs of hundreds of dollars for providers of accommodation.

Robert Henderson, Minister of Tourism and Culture, said he's been getting calls from operators who are unhappy.

"Well I certainly can appreciate the concerns that every operator has. We are in challenging times and the tourism industry is no different than that," he said.

"But it is extremely important that we ensure the standards of our accommodations and the situation that when people come to visit Prince Edward Island they get what they expected to get."

Licensing fees for accommodations with one to four units will go up to $150 this fall, increasing to $200 over the next three years. Larger accommodations will see their fees increase over the same period from $150 plus $7 per unit, to $300 plus $8.50 per unit.

New operators will pay $250 for their first inspection starting this fall,up from $75.There is alsoa new fee when inspectors have to re-visit a site after the initial annual inspection. That will now cost $250.

Henderson said the non-profit corporationproviding inspections on the Islandhas been operating at a deficit.