The government announced on Thursday a new proposal where tourists may have to pay an entry fee to national parks and Doc conservation areas.
The proposal, announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, looked to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies.
Mr Potaka said consultation would be on a proposal to introduce access charges for some public conservation areas, which could create new revenue streams to support the maintenance and upkeep of the most iconic landscapes.
The proposal follows last month’s introduction to an increase in the international visitor levy, from $35 to $100 per person.
With charges for tourists potentially increasing, Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods said there could be an impact in tourist hotspots like Queenstown.
‘‘With $100 at the border per person, potentially another $30-$100 to go to Milford, then if you happen to be going up to Glenorchy to go on to one of our great walks there, there’s another $100.
‘‘It just keeps adding up and up and all of a sudden it gets too expensive.’’
Mr Woods outlined concern that the government was not looking at the fees as a whole system.
‘‘I think a one-off charge is OK,but if we start to accumulate them, that’s when we’re going to see the impact, and I think no-one’s actually looking at it holistically.’’
Submissions are open until the end of February.
