The government of New Zealand is investigating a levy on the international tourists using Great Walks tourism. The figure shows that the tourism department is now make up to 62% of the visitors on the nine trails.
The figures from the Department of Conservation show the gap between foreign and domestic tourists on the Great Walks has widened every year since 2012.
Of last year there are of 120,000 trampers, about 74,000 were from overseas.
The Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis is seeking advice on a range of funding options to support tourism, including a tariff on overseas visitors.
Now, the Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis has confirmed he is seeking advice on a possible tourist levy, and DOC is looking at whether it is the differential pricing could be part of a new booking system for New Zealand’s Great Walks.
The modest accommodation in Great Walks price rises of up at 30 percent for some huts and camping sites were brought in to help narrow the $1.2 million lost each year running the New Zealand’s Great Walks.
The extensive overseas marketing of New Zealand has tourist numbers on them increase by 40,000 over the past five years.
This tourism has spurred on by extensive overseas marketing; overseas walker numbers have increased by 40,000 since 2011. The most over-subscribed is the Milford Track, which is already booked solidly until April next year.
The demand for Tongariro Northern Circuit accommodation leapt 34 per cent in October compared with the same month last year.
The Wellington resident Arianna Jones, 26, and two friends, who walked the Milford Track a fortnight ago, said they struggled to find accommodation, despite locking in their trip three days after bookings opened in May.
