Promoting southwest Michigan’s Harbor Country as a tourist destination will continue.

Since 1990, promoting tourism has been funded with a two-percent tax on hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts and such.

On Wednesday, lodge owners took part in a referendum and narrowly voted to keep the room tax. The vote was 16 in favor, with 12 voting against.

The rented room assessment raises about $200,000 a year from lodging facilities in Michiana, including Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Three Oaks, Lakeside, Harbert and Sawyer.