Travel Tax Harmful for Tourism Industry
29 JULY 2015
Travel Tax Harmful for Tourism
Industry
The travel tax the National Government announced in the May Budget will discourage tourism and adversely impact on one of this country’s largest revenue streams, says New Zealand First.
“New Zealand First agrees with the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand (TIA) that the Border Clearance Levy (or travel tax) is bad policy and another example of this government focusing solely on balancing the books, rather than looking after the interests of the country, says New Zealand First’s Tourism Spokesperson Fletcher Tabuteau.
“Making visitors, exporters and New Zealanders pay as they enter and exit this country is unacceptable – our border services and security needs to continue to be Crown funded. This tax will do nothing but discourage tourism and undermine all of the good work from this industry to-date.
“The figures released by the TIA, and commissioned by the government, show that this tax will reduce international visitor numbers by 1.4 per cent and cut their expenditure by 0.9 per cent, which equates to a loss of 44,000 visitors a year and spending of $104 million.
“It’s very clear to New Zealand First that this biosecurity levy on international passengers is simply the government’s attempt to top up funding they have previously cut.
“This is wholly unacceptable – New Zealand and our tourism industry deserves better,” says Mr Tabuteau.
ENDS