New Zealand to triple vacationer payment – DW – 09/03/2024 | EUROtoday

The authorities of New Zealand introduced on Tuesday that it’ll practically triple entry charges for overseas vacationers. The information prompted criticism from the nation’s key tourism sector, citing issues that it’ll maintain guests away.

Currently, worldwide vacationers pay NZ$35 ($22) to enter the nation. Starting October 1, that payment will rise to NZ$100 ($62).

The measure was to “ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand.”

Like many different well-liked locations, New Zealand has been grappling with tips on how to handle a deluge of tourists, now an essential a part of the nation’s economic system, and the environmental and social affect that overtourism can deliver.

“International tourism plays a hugely important role in the New Zealand economy, with international visitors spending over $11 billion in the year ending March 2024,” Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey mentioned.

“But international tourism also comes with costs to local communities, including additional pressure on regional infrastructure and higher upkeep and maintenance costs across our conservation estate,” he mentioned.

Still reeling from the pandemic

The NZ$35 payment was first launched in 2019, however the authorities discovered that this was not sufficient to cowl the price of environmental harm wrought by tourism.

However, the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association is nervous that the payment will maintain many individuals away. This is especially regarding within the aftermath of the COVID.19 pandemic, when the nation had extraordinarily strict border closures.

“New Zealand’s tourism recovery is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness,” Rebecca Ingram, the affiliation’s chief govt, mentioned.

Earlier on Tuesday, information from Stats NZ confirmed that journey trade income from June 2023 to June 2024 had been down 5% on pre-pandemic ranges.

The authorities has additionally proposed to extend taxes on regional airports, prompting additional fear from the tourism sector.

it’s/it (dpa, Reuters)