WELLINGTON – New Zealand will nearly triple the entry fee for tourists, the government said on Sept 3, spurring criticism from the key tourism sector that the higher levy will deter visitors.

The government said in a statement it would increase the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy starting on Oct 1 to NZ$100 (S$81) from NZ$35 to “ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand”.

Like many popular global tourism spots, New Zealand has struggled with the impact of tourists on the natural environment, with its infrastructure also stretched by the 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.

The government said the fee was competitive and it was confident that New Zealand would continue to be seen as an attractive visitor destination.

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.

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

Data from Stats NZ released earlier on Sept 3 showed that travel export receipts for the year ended June 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 Covid-19 border closures.

The New Zealand government has also recently increased the cost of visitor visas and there is a proposal to increase charges at regional airports.

It is “a triple-whammy for our sector, which is trying to work hard for New Zealand’s economic recovery”, NZ Airports chief executive Billie Moore said. REUTERS