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Taxes on tourists going up #129849
05/11/2017 09:30 AM
05/11/2017 09:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Daily Herald story

Quote from the story---"Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr. was quick to point out, on Wednesday, that the increases are not upping of taxes, but rather it is the “indexation” of the taxes “to bring them up to date” after years at the same level. There are “not necessarily increases, but it is for those taxes to have the same purchasing power it had before,” said Gibson Sr. ” Horsehockey...


Carol Hill
SXM Sponsors
Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Carol_Hill] #129850
05/11/2017 09:39 AM
05/11/2017 09:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 227
Allentown, N. J.
D
deirdre1 Offline
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deirdre1  Offline
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D
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 227
Allentown, N. J.
Only a politician could mangle the English language. Higher taxes due to indexing could effect tourism.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: deirdre1] #129851
05/11/2017 11:13 AM
05/11/2017 11:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 399
Detroit
bluejacket Offline
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bluejacket  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 399
Detroit
OMG LOL
But I hope they don't get too indexed!

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: bluejacket] #129852
05/11/2017 12:38 PM
05/11/2017 12:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 228
Towson, Maryland
pault21093 Offline
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pault21093  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 228
Towson, Maryland
"Gibson Sr. compared the room tax on Aruba with the local yield. Aruba collects some 23.5 per cent of the bill of each hotel guest, while St. Maarten collects five per cent. “Something has to be done to make our room taxes more in line with the region,”"

That doesn't sound right at all.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: pault21093] #129853
05/11/2017 01:25 PM
05/11/2017 01:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
B
Bahston Offline
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Bahston  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,880
There's an Aruba Tourism Tax of 9.5%, which replaced both the old 1.5% Sales Tax on rooms plus the old 6% Room Tax. There is also a flat-rate Environmental fee of a few dollars per night, based on room type. The difference between 9.5% and the minister's quoted 23.5% (or more!) is the hotel's Service Charge/Resort Fee. Hilton currently charges an additional 15% Service Charge. The Aruban government gets the 9.5% plus the few dollars of the Environmental fee, but nowhere near 23.5%. The hotel keeps the rest.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: pault21093] #129854
05/11/2017 05:57 PM
05/11/2017 05:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
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wilsonck  Offline
Traveler
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
Quote
pault21093 said:
"Gibson Sr. compared the room tax on Aruba with the local yield. Aruba collects some 23.5 per cent of the bill of each hotel guest, while St. Maarten collects five per cent. “Something has to be done to make our room taxes more in line with the region,”"

That doesn't sound right at all.


Well, most places are already collecting 15-20% and calling it tax anyways...

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: wilsonck] #129855
05/11/2017 06:11 PM
05/11/2017 06:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
Bluesfan Offline
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Bluesfan  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
Quote
wilsonck said:
Quote
pault21093 said:
"Gibson Sr. compared the room tax on Aruba with the local yield. Aruba collects some 23.5 per cent of the bill of each hotel guest, while St. Maarten collects five per cent. “Something has to be done to make our room taxes more in line with the region,”"

That doesn't sound right at all.


Well, most places are already collecting 15-20% and calling it tax anyways...
LaVista does not have extra levy of any kind. $1/day SMTA donation is voluntary.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Bluesfan] #129856
05/11/2017 06:17 PM
05/11/2017 06:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
Bluesfan Offline
Traveler
Bluesfan  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
$50/week SXM Govt. tax is collected.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Bluesfan] #129857
05/11/2017 06:28 PM
05/11/2017 06:28 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
That's the timeshare tax that everyone is aware of. Other resorts also add a service charge, in addition to the timeshare tax.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Bluesfan] #129858
05/11/2017 09:04 PM
05/11/2017 09:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
Quote
Bluesfan said:
Quote
wilsonck said:
Quote
pault21093 said:
"Gibson Sr. compared the room tax on Aruba with the local yield. Aruba collects some 23.5 per cent of the bill of each hotel guest, while St. Maarten collects five per cent. “Something has to be done to make our room taxes more in line with the region,”"

That doesn't sound right at all.


Well, most places are already collecting 15-20% and calling it tax anyways...
LaVista does not have extra levy of any kind. $1/day SMTA donation is voluntary.

Thought they have an optional wifi fee.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: SXMScubaman] #129859
05/12/2017 06:27 AM
05/12/2017 06:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Optional fee for WiFi is not a tax or an additional fee for something hidden. It's the purchase of a service you can choose to use or not. Other timeshares charge a utility surcharge and/or a service charge and there is no choice but to pay it. La Vista owners pay only our (very reasonable) maintenance fee, the usual $50 timeshare tax, and any other items we choose are optional.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Bluesfan] #129860
05/12/2017 06:52 AM
05/12/2017 06:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
SBR, like every TS, collects the TS tax of $50/week...no charge for WiFi....also has the $1/day program which is optional

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Bluesfan] #129861
05/12/2017 09:01 AM
05/12/2017 09:01 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
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wilsonck  Offline
Traveler
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
Quote
Bluesfan said:
$50/week SXM Govt. tax is collected.


I'm aware of the timeshare tax. At least that is a legitimate charge. I am talking about numerous hotels who charge 15-20% and call that a tax. One example is Sonesta, they charge an extra 21% and they call it tax. Simpson Bay Resort and others do it as well. I always stay at my timeshare for 1 week and add 3 extra days there or at other hotels and always find they charge 15-20% and call it tax, but in reality the tax rate should be 5% and built in to the room rate, not charged extra.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: wilsonck] #129862
05/12/2017 09:08 AM
05/12/2017 09:08 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Some hotels do that, yes, and lie and call it tax, when it's really a service charge, and some places claim the room tax is more than 5%. Beachside Villas is one resort that does NOT do that. They charge the government 5% tax, nothing extra added for service charge, and have full maid service every day.


Carol Hill
Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Carol_Hill] #129863
05/12/2017 09:14 AM
05/12/2017 09:14 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!


Carol Hill
Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: Carol_Hill] #129864
05/12/2017 10:05 AM
05/12/2017 10:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 450
Teresasxm Offline
Traveler
Teresasxm  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 450
OMG - what are they doing to our wonderful island????

The inept Government decisions, corruption, questionable off shore investment (the Chinese project and the Blue Mall ugly elephant in Cupecoy), poor judgement with immigration laws that have led to numerous crime issues...

My heart hurts for the island, the good people that live there and us tourists who like to think of it as our second home.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: SXMScubaman] #129865
05/12/2017 10:55 AM
05/12/2017 10:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
F
foreversxm Offline
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foreversxm  Offline
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F
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
I don't really think 5% hotel tax is that bad for a resort Island. We normally pay 20% which is hotel tax and the 15% service charge at many Dutch side hotels. Some business try to even add the turn over tax. Seems like these extra charges creep into about everything we buy anywhere we go. I don't mind a small increase as long as its really used for something the Island can see and need.

Re: Taxes on tourists going up [Re: foreversxm] #129866
05/12/2017 10:58 AM
05/12/2017 10:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
I don't think anyone is complaining about the 5% hotel tax. They are talking about raising that tax quite significantly though. I personally DO have a big problem with paying 15% service charge, which to me is BS. Build it into your price, don't try to hide stuff.. Turnover tax is NOT supposed to be passed on directly to the consumer at all, by law.


Carol Hill

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