ER
TRAVELLERS to New Zealand will soon have to pay nearly thrice the amount in entry fees from October 1, a move by the government that has sparked criticism from the key tourism sector that the higher levy will deter visitors.
The international visitor and conservation and tourism fees will be raised to NZ$100 (US$61.88) from US$35 to “ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand”, according to the New Zealand government.
New Zealand will near triple its tourist levy come October 1; Auckland in New Zealand, pictured
The decision was made after the NZ$35 fee, which was first introduced in July 2019, proved insufficient to cover the costs incurred by the impact of tourists on the natural environment.
The government said the fee was competitive and it was confident New Zealand would continue to be seen as an attractive visitor destination.
However, tourism stakeholders believe the sharp increase in levy will discourage visitors, as the country is still struggling to recover from strict border closures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the New Zealand government has recently increased the costs of visitor visas, and plans to also increase charges on regional airports.
“New Zealand’s tourism recovery is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness,” said Rebecca Ingram, chief executive, Tourism Industry Association.
For NZ Airports chief executive Billie Moore, the government’s decision is “a triple-whammy for our sector, which is trying to work hard for New Zealand’s economic recovery”. [sources/photo special]
