By BRUCE ERSKINE - Business Reporter
The issue of unlicensed tourist accommodations in Nova Scotia is something the government plans to address, says Tourism Department spokeswoman Wendy Barnable.
"We're aware that it continues to be an issue," she said in an interview Tuesday. "We know (licensed accommodation operators) want to see change."
The Innkeepers Guild of Nova Scotia and the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia said this week the government has to either better enforce or amend the Tourist Accommodation Act and regulations that govern properties offering overnight accommodation.
The guild says the act's vague wording, which only applies to properties that are mainly used for overnight accommodation, allows unlicensed operators to get around the rules by claiming they only offer accommodations for a short period of the year.
Licensed operators say a lack of enforcement is hurting their business by creating an uneven economic playing field, since unlicensed operators don't bear the costs of meeting the legislation's standards and regulations.
The tourism industry association says the situation hurts the entire sector, as unlicensed operations that don't meet quality standards give everyone else a bad name.
Association chairman Nick Carson, general manager of the Prince George Hotel in Halifax, said this week the legislation needs to be revised to reflect industry conditions. He plans to convey his concerns to Tourism Minister Judy Streatch when they meet either this month or in May.
Ms. Barnable acknowledged the tourist accommodation market is changing, pointing to increased Internet use as a new way to advertise Nova Scotia's overnight accommodations to large numbers of tourists.
"With the explosion of the Internet, the problem is complex," she said, adding the issue has been handled differently in different parts of the country.
She said some provinces don't have any licensing legislation for overnight accommodations but rely on other standards like Canada Select, an industry-led accommodation-rating program that also operates in Nova Scotia.
"It is a quality issue," she said, adding her department plans to discuss the matter with the tourism association after it has looked at the options available. "There are many ways it can be achieved."
Ms. Barnable noted department staff follow up on complaints about non-licensed accommodations. "We've had good compliance," she said, adding availability of resources to enforce the act is also an issue for the department.