New Zealand to Increase International Tourist Entry Fees Threefold.

On 3 September 2024, the New Zealand Government announced that the entry fees for international tourists would nearly triple. According to sources, this decision is taken by the government to ensure that tourists contribute to public services and high-quality ventures while staying in New Zealand. In a statement, the government said the fees would be increased from NZ$35 to  NZ$100 from 1 October 2024. 

The New Zealand government has made this conclusion because the country has struggled with the impact of tourists on the natural atmosphere, with infrastructure pushed by the big numbers. In July 2019, the fee for International travel was 35 dollars, but this was not adequate to cover the expenses linked with so many tourists.

As per the report, the government also said that fees were competitive, but the visitors will travel to New Zealand and continue to make this country an attractive destination for travelers. However, the Tourism Industry Association believes that the increased fees will discourage travelers from visiting New Zealand and will affect their economy. Tourism Minister Matt Doocey discussed the new tax cost would not be a considerable deterrent, as NZ$100 would make up less than 3% of most tourists' average spending in the country. He also said the levy ensures “international visitors contribute to high-value conservation areas and projects such as supporting biodiversity in National Parks."

New Zealand is one of the biggest export earners, but after COVID-19 19, the country is struggling to recover from strict border closures, and it is one of the main reasons for increasing the fees for tourists for traveling.

According to the report, Rebecca Ingram, the association's chief executive, expressed concern over the fee increase's impact on the sector's recovery. "New Zealand's tourism recovery is falling behind the rest of the world, and this will further dent our global competitiveness," she said. Furthermore, she also noted that in recent data, New Zealand showed that travel export receipts for the year ending June 30 were NZD 14.96 billion, a 5 percent decline from pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, current tourist digits are flowing around 80 percent of what they were before the border closures.

The New Zealand government has also recently raised the costs of visitor visas and is proposing to increase charges at regional airports. The government is trying to boost the economy. Billie Moore, NZ Airports chief executive, said that it is "a triple-whammy for our sector, which is trying to work hard for New Zealand's economic recovery."