Mendocino County’s tourism industry may soon start paying more to market itself. Hotel owners are close to approving a plan that would double the surcharge funding for Visit Mendocino County, the agency responsible for promoting travel across the region. Interim director Scott Schneider says the group is only a few signatures away from making the increase happen as county support for tourism marketing has dried up. Local tourism leaders argue visitor spending remains one of the county’s few bright economic spots.