Search

Although North American urban leaders have increasingly promoted tourism as a local economic development strategy, there has been little systematic research on the fiscal impact of tourism in cities. Since the 1960s, the federal, provincial, and municipal governments have invested more than $7 billion in tourist attractions and related infrastructure in Montréal, including ‘mega-events’ (Expo 67 and the 1976 Olympics), a convention centre, casino, hotels, museums, sports stadiums, amusement parks, and a tourism-recreation district on the riverfront. By 2000, according to city officials. Montréal attracted nearly six million tourists annually and the taxes and fees on tourist spending represented an estimated seven percent of city revenues. Yet, analysis of these investments reveals little sign that, on the whole, tourism has been much of a fiscal boon to Montréal on the contrary, the staggering debt from the Olympics alone has compromised city finances for over a quarter century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]