New Zealand has joined a raft of countries imposing new travel fees on tourists, including Australians, visiting hotspots in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
All overseas travellers will be charged up to NZ$40 (AU$36), from 2027, to visit some of New Zealand’s most beautiful natural wonders such as the popular Milford Sound and Mount Cook. Lesser known destinations such as Cathedral Cove and Tongariro Crossing, one of the most popular hiking tracks in the country, will subject to a lower fee of NZ$20 (AU$18).
The New Zealand Government estimates up to $62 million could be raised by the fees which will go towards conservation efforts and creating new jobs.
Dual-pricing systems
Many other countries already charge tourists fees to visit popular sites, with dual-pricing systems, where foreigners pay more than locals to visit national parks, museums and heritage sites, to raise revenue for infrastructure or to control overtourism.
Enough is enough! Italian farmers install turnstiles to charge influencers
“Sites that are truly special to New Zealanders should be protected so we are giving DoC more support by introducing a charge for foreign visitors to access high volume sites,” NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.
“Tourists make a massive contribution to our economy, and no one wants that to change. But I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free,” Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said, calling it “only fair” that foreign visitors make an additional payment.
Luxon said there were no plans for New Zealanders to pay a fee.
“It’s our collective inheritance and Kiwis shouldn’t have to pay to see it.”
Fee collection must be ‘smooth’
The Conservation Minister’s office cited places such as Banff National Park in Canada and Yellowstone National Park in the US. Yellowstone, for example, typically charges US$35 (NZ$59) per vehicle entering the park, including all passengers.
“The transactions (fee collection) must be smooth, and importantly visitors must be able to see where and how their fees have been applied,” a spokesperson for the Conservation Minister said.
“There will be costs in collection (potentially at each site) and these will need to be offset against anticipated revenue.”
There are several options being considered to collect fees, the Conservation Minister’s spokesperson said.
“As part of this we will consider approaches taken overseas, such as the use of online booking systems, ticket booths and park passes,” the spokesperson said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met NZ PM Luxon, over the weekend, arriving in Queenstown on Saturday, before official meetings to discuss trade and defence.
