The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority is “issuing a document” to enforce payment of the 4% occupancy tax due on all residential units rented less than ninety days. It will warn violators of potential penalties, which include felonious charges.

The result of fewer renters paying the occupancy tax has been a reduction in the amount of money the TDA has to work with to promote the county, which in turn hurts the tourism industry as a whole, [TDA Executive Director Lynn] Collins said, adding, “It hurts them, too.”