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Cameron Parish tourism commission readies visitor‑center partnership as state shifts occupancy‑tax collection
Summary
Tourism officials told the Police Jury that new state rules will route a 2% occupancy tax remittance from third‑party platforms through the state to parishes beginning January, and proposed volunteering at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge visitor center to increase operations at no cost to the parish.
Tourism commissioners updated the Cameron Parish Police Jury on expected changes to occupancy‑tax collection and outlined plans to expand visitor services at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Vicky Little, speaking for the Tourism Commission, said House Bill 374 (as described in the meeting) will require third‑party platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to collect a 2% occupancy tax from visitors, remit it to the state and the state then remit to the parish. Little and other presenters said the parish currently collects occupancy tax from about 26 registered local businesses but that online listings are far more numerous and compliance has been inconsistent. "We want to use this money wisely," one tourism speaker said, citing the commission’s goal to promote Cameron Parish.
The commission proposed a memorandum of understanding to provide volunteers to staff and expand hours at the Cameron Prairie visitor center, citing staffing shortages at the refuge and saying the plan would cost the Tourism Commission and Police Jury nothing. "We would volunteer at the visitor center to help it stay open, be open, be more accessible to visitors," Vicky Little said.
Jurors asked whether the parish would charge an administrative fee for collecting occupancy tax on behalf of the Tourism Commission; staff said they proposed retaining 2% of monthly collections to offset accounting costs. Tourism presenters said the commission operates on a modest annual budget and is pursuing grants and partnerships for longer‑term investments, including a concept for a Cameron Parish tourism facility.
Next steps: staff will post notices for the public about the licensing/collection change, continue outreach to lodging operators to improve compliance and review any required MOU language with refuge staff and parish counsel. The parish will monitor how the state implements HB 374 before making final administrative‑fee decisions.
