Published on : Wednesday, July 18, 2018
New Zealand tourism minister Kelvin Davis said while introducing the proposed tax last month, “As the number of visitors to our country increases year on year, so does the pressure grow on our infrastructure, on our conservation estate, and on our communities.
In many places, our tourism infrastructure is creaking at the seams.”
Davis added, “We don’t believe that the financial burden should rest purely on the shoulders of New Zealanders. We do believe that visitors should pay their fair share. This levy will ensure our international visitors contribute to the infrastructure they use and help protect the natural places they come here to enjoy.”
If approved, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy would come into effect from the end of next year, and is expected to generate between $40 million and $54 million after implementation. A decision would be made on the tax this September.
The tax would be collected through visa fees and a new electronic travel authorization process for citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program. Australian citizens and people from most Pacific Islands Forum countries would be exempt from paying the tourist tax.
Around 3.8 million international visitors travel to New Zealand each year, and that number is expected to grow to 5.1 million by 2024.
Tags: new zealand, Tourist tax