While some vacation rental providers are cancelling bookings to conform with the District of Tofino's bylaws others continue to book illegal vacation rentals .
- Name of Inquirer: xxxxxxx
- E-mail Address: xxxxx@ORANGE.FR
- Phone Number: 610xxxxx
- Check In Date: 2017-08-16
- Check Out Date: 2017-08-20
- Number of Adults: 4
- Number of Children: 1
- Lodging Search Type(s): Vacation Rentals & Guest Houses, Inns & B&Bs
- Further details/comments:
hello
we
are looking for an accomodation for 5 people, 2 adults 3 kids 17/15 and
8 years old, we would like if possible to have a flat with a kitchen.
thank you for helping us as our booking on airbnb was savagely cancelled
I was easily able to link to many illegal vacation rentals through the Tourism Tofino website.This includes units at South Chestermans and The Shore.
Is the District of Tofino really going to enforce their bylaws ? People booking at vacation rentals through links provided by Tourism Tofino have reasonable cause to believe that everything is legitimate. Many illegal units are already booked for the summer. It is starting to look like a high stakes game of chicken between the District of Tofino and some vacation rental operators. Collateral damage will include the reputation of Tofino if hundreds of summer bookings are cancelled.
This weekend many illegal vacation rental units were full and the losers were those who cancelled bookings to conform with the District of Tofino's bylaws.So far the District has shown that it is willing to do absolutely nothing.
19 comments:
More "Fake News" from Ralph.The District has done something! They raised the business license fees in order to pay for non-existent proactive enforcement.Bylaw will crack down on South Chesterman about the same time Tofino treats its sewage.
Call Trudeau! (I believe he stayed in an illegal vacation rental on Chesterman's Beach just last summer.) See if he'll help you out with your problem.
What happened after Smith's dramatic raid ? Nothing.
The are not illegal Vacation Rentals . They are undocumented accommodation providers.
8:13 - it is only a " problem " if you follow the rules. Bylaw doesn't work weekends anyway.
This is mayor Osborne's "War on Tourism" in action! It was a bad idea when conceived, a bad idea to enforce, a bad idea in implementation....... and it will prove to be a bad idea in the effects it has on Tofino's tourism industry. Trying to blame the local lack of housing on the tourism sector has got to be simply the stupidest idea that ever came out of the district office! Kill the golden goose! Has it occurred to anyone that some of those "illegal" rentals are actually owned by lawyers? Just wait until the District clashes with those guys, in court. Then you're really going to see the feathers fly. Catch is, lawyers work for themselves for free while the district has to pay for legal services. It would have been so much easier to simply license and tax them, collect the fees and amenities that they offered, approve some residential housing developments, and assume responsibility for operating the municipal government, but, instead, our mayor and council have chosen the hard way. The damage from their short sighted decision, following over a decade of non-action, is only beginning to show itself. It's going to get worse. Last year was Tofino's biggest tourism year ever. Note that:2016. From here, it goes downhill.
If this family of 5 isn't permitted to rent a house or condo, where would you suggest they look to for accomodations? A space at the illegal campground? Maybe some dorm beds at the eco-lodge? 3 motel rooms?(that'll be affordable)...... Wait, I got an idea! They can stay in Ucluelet.
I saw this email inquiry too, and know who it was that cancelled that booking. They operate multiple rooms in their BNB, but are limited (like everyone) to a max of 6 guests.
My guess is that by keeping this booking, they wouldn't legally be able to rent out their other 2 rooms. Better to cancel this one booking and be able to rent all 3 rooms to travelling couples to stay within the limits.
9:19 There is a ticket adjudication in place. Costs the district peanuts to enforce a ticket. No lawyers needed.
Now the question: Will they enforce the tickets and let the citizens know who has been ticketed along with the follow up enforcement?
Should be public knowledge shouldn't it?
Absolutely crazy!
Spineless counsellors.....
5:06 Don't lump them all In the same boat. The vote was 3-3 as Baert was absent. Whichever side you are on, write in to support the 3 that supported your views! Stiffen their spines!
9:19 - I don't believe this is a short sighted decision in the least. This is also not a "War on Tourism" as you label it. This, I see, is a way towards sustainable tourism development that takes into account tourism carrying capacity and long-term community sustainability. You have to ask sometimes when enough is just simply that, enough. The goal I see is a healthy balance for residents, businesses as well as visitors. This was the main issue going forward presented in a masters thesis done about Tofino a decade ago on the issue of tourism growth on the community. Fast forward to 2017 and we are now beginning to see more consideration of all stakeholder groups rather then just the visitor and business. Short-term effects will be felt but its definitely not short sighted like you claim. The only thing I see in your whole argument are vacant claims and fear mongering. Sometimes things worth having don't always come easy.
I may have been wrong ! I noticed one Vacation Rental company is now only doing 30 day bookings at South Chestermans Condos. Perhaps the District has escalated enforcement . I also noticed 30 day minimum stay at one Shore unit.
I heard tickets were being issued for advertising nightly rentals without a business licence. At last some action!!!!!
Great News!! Get those fucking tourists out of Tofino!
Interesting that the stratas and apartments aren't qualified for recycle or garbage pick-up, because they're classed as "commercial". However they cannot do short term rentals because they're classed as "residential". The rules apply to some, not to others. Some, it seems, are more equal than others.
This is mayor Osborne's "War on Tourism" in action! It was a bad idea when conceived, a bad idea to enforce, a bad idea in implementation....... and it will prove to be a bad idea in the effects it has on Tofino's tourism industry. Trying to blame the local lack of housing on the tourism sector has got to be simply the stupidest idea that ever came out of the district office! Kill the golden goose! Has it occurred to anyone that some of those "illegal" rentals are actually owned by lawyers? Just wait until the District clashes with those guys, in court. Then you're really going to see the feathers fly. Catch is, lawyers work for themselves for free while the district has to pay for legal services. It would have been so much easier to simply license and tax them, collect the fees and amenities that they offered, approve some residential housing developments, and assume responsibility for operating the municipal government, but, instead, our mayor and council have chosen the hard way. The damage from their short sighted decision, following over a decade of non-action, is only beginning to show itself. It's going to get worse. Last year was Tofino's biggest tourism year ever. Note that:2016. From here, it goes downhill.
February 14, 2017 at 9:19 PM
THIS IS THE ONLY MESSAGE WITH MAKES SENCE....SOUTH CHESTERMAN IS NOT THE ANSWER TO OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE!!!! IT WILL NEVER BE USED FOR HOUSING STAFF....SOUTH CHESTERMAN HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY IN WAY OF SUPPORTING ALL OUR TOURISM PRODUCTS FOR 18 YEARS!!!!...WHAT HAS TOFINO BECOME FOR CRYING OUT LOUD....RELEASE MORE LAND TO DEVELOP AND STOP BECOMING A BORDER PATROL AGENT LIKE DONALD TRUMP....IS THAT WHO WE ARE NOW FOR CRYNG OUT LOUD....PITTED NIEGHBOUR AGAINST NIEGHBOUR...GET REAL PEOPLE....FIND A COMPROMISE AND MOVE ON!!! TOURISM IS OUR LIFE LINE...THE MORE THE BETTER! STOP LIVING IN THE PAST AND SUPPORT ALL OF WHO PAY TAXES IN TOFINO.
Oooh ! Lawyers ! I'm scared ! If there are lawyers renting out illegal Vacation Rentals they should be disbarred . Perhaps they can find work as online trolls or work at a legitimate hotel scrubbing toilets or flipping burgers.
Yes ... if 2;34 even pays taxes he/she should be scared !!
I hope SC sues the crap out of the DOT for all this BS over the years !!
Taxpayer dollars wasted once again in a court case that Tofino should LOSE !!!
Do we not have more important issues to focus on rather than simply legitimizing and charging appropriate licensing fees for a location so geared for tourists ?
After all that is our only industry - now !!!
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