The New Zealand government has approved a new International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy to be set at NZD35 (R332) per visitor, raising an estimated NZD 80 million (R758m) a year to go toward tourism infrastructure and conservation projects.
The levy will be collected through visa fees and via the new Electronic Travel Authority, with legislation due to be passed around the middle of next year. A specific date has not yet been finalised.
David Pegg, md of Sure Viva Travels, told eTNW that the levy would not have a big impact on the SA market. “SA travellers will not be deterred by this additional cost as it is small when compared with the amount they would pay, on average, in order to travel to New Zealand.”
