Got New Zealand in your travel list? Get ready to shell out more in tax

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, you will have to shell more to enjoy the beautiful country. The New Zealand government is planning to impose a tourist tax and increase other fees for international visitors to fund infrastructure in the face of a tourist boom. New Zealand’s Tourist minister Kelvin Davis announced that the country plans to begin a tourist tax by mid 2019- the middle of the official “China New Zealand Year of Tourism”.

A tax of NZ$25-35 (Rs 1,200-1,700) would be imposed on international visitors from mid-next year while price hikes for immigration fees and visas will take effect this November.

Tourism, in the country of populations of nearly 4.5 million, have surged by nearly three times in the past three years to 3.8 million. "This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure," tourism minister said.


"Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to carparks," the minister said.

Tourism is an important revenue generator for the New Zealand economy and the new tax is expected to raise around NZ$80 million.

The main opposition National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a "less attractive" tourist destination.

But the government said the impact on tourist numbers would be minimal.

"When you're talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZ$1,200, an extra NZ$25-NZ$30 isn't going to make that much of a difference," the minister said.

(Inputs from AFP)