The beautiful country that will nearly triple tourist tax with new £47.20 charge
Holidaymakers in New Zealand will now have to pay up to NZ$100 £47.20 for the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
New Zealand will nearly triple the entry for tourists in a move some fear could deter visitors.
The move represents a major blow to holidaymakers who will have to pay up to NZ$100 £47.20 for the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
This is an increase from NZ$35 (£16.52), which was introduced in July 2018, meaning the cost of entering the country will almost triple for foreign visitors.
The increased costs will come on top of separate visa fees for some visitors which are also rising from October 1. In most places, the tax is included as part of accommodation, visa or plane ticket costs.
Australians and travellers from most Pacific nations are exempt from the levy.
Like many popular global tourism spots, New Zealand has grappled with the impact of tourists on the natural environment, with infrastructure stretched by the large numbers.
However, the government hopes the tourists tax hike will help economic growth and "ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand".
But Tourism Industry Aotearoa - the country's independent tourism body - has warned the higher fee is a barrier to visitors, making it "incredibly expensive to visit".
"New Zealand’s tourism recovery is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness," said Rebecca Ingram, the association's chief executive.
Tourism Minister Matt Doocey defended the decision on the basis that the NZ$100 tourism levy makes up less than three percent of what the average tourist spends in the country."
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Despite New Zealand offering an incredible lifestyle with plenty of nature to explore, the country has been struggling to return to the visitor levels it saw before the pandemicith.
It received just under three million international visitors in 2023, including 1.3 million Australians.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the country shut its borders for two and a half years and didn't allow foreign visitors to return until August 2022.
Its location in the South Pacific and associated long-distance airfares have often posed a serious barrier for visitors.
Data from Stats NZ released last Tuesday showed travel export receipts for the year ended 30 June were at NZ$14.96bn, down five percent from before the pandemic. Visitor numbers, according to the bureau, are roughly 80 percent of the levels before the border closures.
