After much debate, one of the most scenic coastal communities in B.C. is about to introduce pay parking — but only visitors will have to pay.

The District of Tofino is setting up 10 machines in the downtown area in a couple of weeks, and hopes to have many more in place by next summer.

Surfers are among the many visitors who fill up the town every summer.
(CBC)

For most of the year the Vancouver Island community is a village of 1,800, but in the summer thousands of people arrive, swelling the population to 18,000.

Some district councillors say that pressure on the community's resources should be paid for by tourists.

"It's a way for us to generate some revenues to be able to supply those infrastructure needs," says Coun. Denise Gibson.

Parking is at a premium in downtown Tofino during the summer months.
(CBC)

But Coun. Michael Tilitzky, who is also the manager of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, is worried the move could scare visitors away to neighbouring Ucluelet.

"As people come to the West Coast, they'll have a decision to make, whether to go to Ucluelet or Tofino," he said.

"And if we apply pay parking and Ucluelet hasn't, it may be a deciding factor in whether or not people visit Tofino."

The pay parking is expected to add $350,000 a year to Tofino's municipal coffers.