New Zealand tourist tax near triples for foreign visitors

The nation is famed for its Māori culture and dramatic scenery, including glaciers, mountains, volcanoes and lakes.

But its location in the South Pacific and associated long-distance air fares have often posed a barrier for visitors.

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

New Zealand first introduced the levy in 2019, as it grappled with the impact of large numbers of visitors on its infrastructure, environment and communities.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the country shut its borders for two and a half years and didn’t allow foreign visitors to return until August 2022.

The country has been struggling to return to the visitor levels it saw before the pandemic, with just under three million international visitors in 2023, external, roughly three-quarters of pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism Minister Matt Doocey argued the new tax cost would not be a huge deterrant, as NZ$100 would make up less than 3% of most tourists’ average spend in the country.

He said it remained competitive compared with countries such as Australia and UK, and he remained “confident New Zealand will continue to be seen as an attractive visitor destination by many around the world”.

The tax does not need to be paid by visitors from Australia and the Pacific. Most visitors to New Zealand are from Australia, the United States, China and Fiji.