Ms Barry did not specifically say what she would charge international visitors when she was speaking at yesterday’s announcement of a $178million government tourism infrastructure package, but she referred to New Zealand’s Great Walks during her comments.
"Differential charging" had been "something we’ve been talking about for quite a while", she said.
The $76million extra funding for the Department of Conservation (Doc), which was part of the overall sum, would mean it could develop a computer system that allowed differential charging.
The system should be operating by the booking season next April. She had not decided on a differential rate, but there was more appetite for international visitors to pay more because they were used to it, she said.
She did not want to "kill the goose that laid the golden egg", but New Zealand ratepayers and taxpayers had put in significant amounts of money to fund Doc to develop New Zealand’s Great Walks.
The extra Doc funding would allow tourist facilities on the Doc estate to be upgraded and developed, and the Great Walks network expanded, Ms Barry said.
Two new Great Walks would be established, and a contestable process followed to select the best locations.
A network of Great Short Walks and Great Day Walks would also be developed, Ms Barry said.
"Increasingly, people enjoying New Zealand’s parks and conservation areas want activities that can be done in a day or less.
"Great Day Walks and Great Short Walks will give people more choices."
