Explore the natural beauty of New Zealand such as lakes, mountains, bike trails and wineries, will become more expensive from October 1, 2024. The country will increase the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) from NZ$35 (R$ 122 ) to NZ$100 (R$ 349 ).
“International tourism brings costs to local communities, such as greater pressure on regional infrastructure and higher maintenance costs in conservation areas,” he said. Matt Doocey New Zealand’s Minister for Hospitality and Tourism, when announcing the news.
Created in 2019, this tax aims to help with the costs of environmental protection in the country. Doocey also highlighted that international tourists spent more than US$ 11 billion (around R$ 62 billion) on New Zealand between March 2023 and March 2024.
However, not everyone was happy with the measure. Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), an association that brings together professionals in the tourism sector, criticized the increase.
“THE New Zealand tourism recovery is lagging behind the rest of the world, and this will further affect our global competitiveness,” said the entity, which believes that the country will lose visitors to destinations such as Canada and the United Kingdom, where flights are more affordable and entry fees are less stringent.
In addition to the IVL, other fees will also affect tourists who intend to visit New Zealand. From October 1, for Americans, the cost of tourist visas will increase from US$131 (R$739) to US$211 (R$1190).
Citizens of 60 countries, including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Japan and Mexico, can visit New Zealand visa-free for up to three months for tourism. However, even these travelers must obtain an electronic visa (e-visa) and pay the IVL fee.
With the new rules, the government expects longer visa processing times this year. Immigration authorities advise anyone planning to travel over the Christmas period to apply for a visa by October 15 at the latest, and those planning to visit the country for New Year should apply by November 15.
Regardless of what you call it — IVL, access fee or travel incentive — “tourist taxes” are on the rise in the tourism industry .
Around 60 destinations around the world, from Venice the Bhutan charge some kind of fee for tourists to enter and explore their attractions, in addition to the costs of food, accommodation and tickets. Most of these places justify the fees to deal with the excess of tourists and their impact on the environment.
These fees are not likely to disappear any time soon. Cities like Edinburgh, Scotland and Zermatt, in Switzerland are considering implementing their own charges.
A study from Bangor University in Wales revealed that “there is little evidence that tourists are giving up on visiting” places that have adopted these taxes.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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