Under the new government plan declared at a weekend, travelers to New Zealand will be charged of a special tax to handle rising influx of holidaymakers coming from abroad.
Tourist visits have increased almost a third in the last three years to 3.8 million in the 12 months to April, approximately as big as the population of the country.
“This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure,” tourism minister Kelvin Davis said.
“Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to car parks.”
A tax of NZD 25 go 35 (USD17 to 24) will be obligatory on overseas visitors from the midst of 2019, as price hikes for immigration fees and visas will start impacting this November.
Australians and majority of Pacific Island forum countries will be excused from the new charges.
Tourism is the main pillar of the economy of New Zealand and the new tax is anticipated to rise up to NZD 80 million in its first year, which will be divided between tourism infrastructure and conservation initiatives.
The main resistance National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a “less attractive” destination.
However, Davis considers that the effect on tourist numbers would be negligible.
“When you’re talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZD 1,200, an extra NZD 25 to 30 isn’t going to make that much of a difference,” he said.
Tags: new zealand
