For decades, the tourism industry is the driving force of the economy of Bonaire. Nevertheless, recently the amount available for TCB (Tourism Corporation Bonaire) was reduced.
The Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association (BONHATA) sees opportunities for the local government to, with the correct collection of the tourist tax and car rental tax not only increase the funds available for the promotion of our destination to the recent level but to even increase the budget in order to, with the correct spending give our island economy a necessary boost.
Moreover, in the present situation, many companies and individuals on Bonaire that rent out rooms and/or cars to tourists do not pay tourist and/or car rental tax. Estimated by the OLB itself is that more than 50% of the tourist tax is not collected and the estimate is that a similar percentage is applicable regarding the car rental tax.
Besides being able to improve the promotion of Bonaire as a tourist destination, a proper collection of taxes mentioned also ends the unfair competition between entities that pay and entities/individuals that do not pay their taxes.
BONHATA requests the Executive Council and Island Council to on short term actively collect the non collected taxes and make these funds available for the promotion of Bonaire as a tourist destination, the most important pillar of our economy.