Tourists traveling to Gloucester will be spending a little more money to stay in the county beginning July 1. The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 Tuesday night to increase the lodging tax from 4 percent to 5 percent in hopes of bringing additional revenue to the county to benefit its tourism industry.

The board held a public hearing on the matter in the colonial courthouse, and only one citizen spoke. Ware district resident Richard Elmore asked why the tax was being increased. “Are we asking to raise this because the 4 percent is not meeting our demands?” he asked.

At-large supervisor John Meyer Jr. said raising the lodging tax by 1 percent will allow the county to realize an estimated $32,000 in additional revenue, with that increase specifically designated to promote tourism. “So, we’re trying to increase the number of people coming to the county to stay, eat and take advantage of our waterfront,” Meyer said.

Petsworth district superv...