Nothing has changed about visiting New
Zealand. It’s still beautiful. It will just cost you more to visit.
The New
Zealand government announced it will nearly
triple its current levy on international tourists, with critics saying the new fees will inhibit
tourism.
“New Zealand’s tourism recovery is falling
behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global
competitiveness,” said Rebecca Ingram, Director of the Tourism Industry
Association.
New Zealand is still trying to bounce back
from harsh restrictions imposed during COVID.
The new fee structure will start on
October 1. They will increase from $35 New Zealand dollars to $100. The
government did not mention the mass tourism backlash taking place in other parts of
the world. It only said that the increase in fees was to “ensure visitors
contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New
Zealand.”
But it is a nod to tourism’s growing
impact on the environment.
The previously modest tax was imposed more
than five years ago. The July 2019 levy was thought to be sufficient. Then, the
pandemic hit about seven months later and brought the thriving tourism sector
to a virtual standstill.
New Zealand is trying to bounce back, however,
and just instituted
a new cruise itinerary earlier last month.
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