In an effort to increase the county’s tourism base, the Board of Supervisors agreed to allow lodging establishments in some unincorporated parts of the county to be a part of the Santa Barbara South Coast Tourism Business Improvement District, a five-year revenue source that would bump up marketing, sales, and promotional efforts to make the area more attractive as a tourism and event destination. The boundaries include the cities of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Goleta, and the surrounding unincorporated parts of the county, up to Refugio Road. A small rate would be assessed to visitors at hotels based on average daily rates at the lodging businesses.
