Thursday, May 30, 2024 New Zealand’s government is considering a significant increase in the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), potentially tripling the current fee of $35 to $100 for international visitors. This proposed hike comes in response to inflation, rising costs associated with tourism, and similar tariffs in other destinations. If approved, the increase aims to support a sustainable tourism system by ensuring international visitors contribute more substantially to the costs of tourism infrastructure and conservation efforts.

Since its establishment in 2019, the IVL has required most foreign visitors to pay a $35 fee upon entering New Zealand. This levy was designed to support sustainable tourism by funding projects that benefit tourism and conservation. Initially, the IVL generated around $80 million annually based on 2019 visitor volumes.

However, the government has identified several reasons for proposing an increase: The New Zealand government has outlined four potential options for the IVL increase: Each option reflects a different approach to balancing the need for increased funding with the potential impact on tourism demand. The government is also seeking public feedback on how the additional funds should be allocated within the tourism and conservation sectors. If the highest proposed increase to $100 is approved, international visitors will face nearly triple the current fee.

This significant hike could potentially affect travel de.