WELLINGTON: New Zealand will nearly triple entry fees for tourists, the government said on Tuesday (Sep 3), spurring criticism from the key tourism sector the higher levy will deter visitors.
The Grand Princess cruise ship is docked at Wellington Harbour, in Wellington, New Zealand, Mar 14, 2023. WELLINGTON: New Zealand will nearly triple entry fees for tourists, the government said on Tuesday , spurring criticism from the key tourism sector the higher levy will deter visitors.
Like many popular global tourism spots, New Zealand has struggled with the impact of tourists on the natural environment, with infrastructure stretched by large numbers. The NZ$35 fee was introduced in July 2019, but this was not sufficient to cover the costs associated with so many visitors. However, the country's Tourism Industry Association believes the higher fees will discourage visitors, especially as the sector, once New Zealand's biggest export earner, is still struggling to recover from strict border closures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data from Stats NZ released earlier on Tuesday showed that travel export receipts for the year ended Jun 30 were at NZ$14.96 billion, down 5 per cent from prior to the pandemic. Visitor numbers, according to the bureau, are roughly 80 per cent of levels before the border closures.
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