Surrey tax expected to raise millions of dollars for tourism

The Municipal and Regional District Tax is expected to raise millions of dollars for the City of Surrey, according to a new city report.

For 2026, the projected MRDT revenue is $2,405,000. Discover Surrey, as Surrey’s designated Destination Marketing Organization, will receive $1,563,000 while the Surrey Hotel and Motel Association, representing all eligible MRDT accommodation providers in supporting more overnight stays, will receive $505,000, and the City of Surrey will receive $337,000 to support City-led initiative including sports tourism, special events, and destination development research.

The MRDT is a 3% tax collected from short-term accommodations such as hotels and motels in designated areas of British Columbia. Its purpose is to fund tourism marketing, programs, and projects that increase local tourism and enhance destination development.

Key activities for the 2026 plan include the following:

Discover Surrey will focus on:

Enhancing tourism attractions such as refreshing the Spice Trail, and expanding Surrey’s bookable Signature Experiences to drive overnight stays

Developing a Travel Trade Strategy to attract international and domestic group travel and continue to put Surrey on the global map for travel.

SHMA will focus on:

Strengthening the accommodation sector by driving year-round occupancy and positioning Surrey as a hub for sports, conferences and business travel.

Collaborating on travel trade initiatives and co-represent Surrey at major trade shows.

The City of Surrey will focus on:

Exploring opportunities for local Surrey businesses to benefit from FIFA 2026 by showcasing Surrey to global visitors as a place for entertainment, culture, and community.

Attracting more national and international sporting tournaments and position Surrey as a premier sports destination in Canada.

Leading the Value of Tourism study to help quantify the economic impact of tourism in Surrey which will help inform marketing and investment attraction strategies for tourism development.

Collaboratively, Team Surrey will be investing in tools and studies to close data gaps and strengthen Surrey’s competitive positioning through evidence-based decision-making.