New Zealand's ‘admission fee’ to benefit conservation and tourism

New Zealand's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which came into effect on 1st July, has been dubbed an “admission fee” by UK newspaper The Independent.

Seen as a way of raising funds to counter impacts of potential overtourism in parts of the country, the $35 tax applies to most foreign visitors – although citizens of Australia and some Pacific nations are exempt, as are transit passengers and aircraft and ships crews.

With tourism contributing 10% of the country’s GDP and employing over 230,000 people, New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has advised “the IVL will be split between conservation and tourism, with three areas of focus: conservation, infrastructure and systems.”

New Zealand Tourism Minister Kelvin Davies explains "investment in supporting infrastructure and protection of our natural attractions is not keeping up with visitor growth.”

With overtourism fast becoming one of the most hotly debated issues in the tourism industry. Cheaper airfares, rising incomes and social media's ability to focus attention on specific destinations, more travellers than ever before are descending on places that can no longer cope with their own popularity.

Key European cities, Asian locations such as Bail and India’s Taj Mahal and the South Island destination of Queenstown, while welcoming visitor spending, are facing growing pressure on their infrastructure from rising tourism numbers.

Beyond the IVL, the residents of Queenstown have also voted to introduce its own bed tax – with a referendum of its 40,000 residents recording 81% backed the move.

Known for its adventure sports and spectacular mountains, Queenstown had a massive 3.3 million visitors in 2018. The hope is that the tax will bring in fewer visitors who spend more money.

Following the Queenstown vote, a draft Productivity Commission report found councils under pressure from tourism should be able to charge visitors through an accommodation levy as part of a review of local government funding.

The report said tourists did not fully pay for the costs of local infrastructure and services that they consumed in tourist hotspots.

The Commission recommended a bed tax to help cover costs in larger tourist hotspots, while smaller areas without accommodation could receive funding from the new international visitor levy.

However, Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive Chris Roberts said a bed tax was not the answer, advising “while this might seem like an easy solution, it will not succeed in making visitors pay their fair share.”

In addition, from October the New Zealand Government is bringing in the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) and an online permit will cost $9 via an App or $12 online.

Image: Paragliding above Queenstown.