New Zealand To Triple Tourist Tax From October

The New Zealand government will nearly triple entry fees for tourists from next month. The government said that the hike in the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from NZ$35 ($22) to NZ$100 ($62) will be effective from October 1.

The government said in a statement that the move will “ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand," reported the BBC. New Zealand first introduced IVL in 2019. The aim of the levy is to help cover the costs of environmental protection around the country.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the country closed its borders for two and a half years and reopened to foreign visitors in August 2022. New Zealand has been struggling to return to the visitor levels it witnessed before the pandemic. Last year, over 3.2 million tourists visited New Zealand.

At the same time, visitors from Australia and the Pacific are not required to pay the tax. According to The Guardian, major markets that will be affected by the tourism levy include India, US, China, UK, South Korea, and Germany. Notably, apart from New Zealand, other countries that charge tourists include Spain, Indonesia, France, Austria, Croatia, Costa Rica, Iceland, and Italy.