A briefing to Tourism Minister John Key warned government policy coupled with increasing demand from international tourists could lead to "negative outcomes for New Zealanders".
Those included congestion in national parks, more lower-value visitors, environmental degradation and inefficient infrastructure investment.
It mentioned the possibility of "differential pricing", noting it posed challenges which needed to be worked through, but that it was used in many other places.
Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Debra Lawson said it was too early for the council to comment on the issue as the report was yet to be consulted on.
"But I'm sure the process will stimulate passionate debate and the council is looking forward to taking part in this.
"I do know from the 'Shaping Our Future' forums that our community places great value on the ease of access locals and visitors have to the great outdoors," Ms Lawson said.
"There seems to be quite a lot of consideration on the parks, which would affect our neighbouring region of Fiordland more than Queenstown," Mr Everitt said.
However, several businesses in Glenorchy - a gateway to the Mt Aspiring National Park and the Routeburn Great Walk - were against the idea.
The Woolshed giftshop owner John Coudret said tourism was "the lifeblood" of towns such as Glenorchy. If tourism were restricted by access fees, it could be detrimental to the industry.
"That's one thing - that it's open to everybody on whatever budget," Mr Coudret said.
"There's a lot of tourists from overseas coming here to access our parks and backcountry, and without these tourists, then everyone would suffer."
Glenorchy Cafe owner Grant Treleaven also rejected the idea, saying a better approach would be for the Government to budget more for things like infrastructure support than to jeopardise "a huge industry".
"It wouldn't take long for word to get around that international travellers are getting ripped off." Kara Waitere, a driver for Queenstown business Info & Track, thought it would make international tourists think twice before visiting and perhaps go elsewhere.
