charges to enter NZ national parks

[wayno]

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/1971 ... onal-parks

Otago Daily Times Online News
Published on Otago Daily Times Online News (http://www.odt.co.nz)

Tourist tax mooted for national parks
By Hamish McNeilly
Created 09/02/12

International tourists could be charged for access to the country's national parks.

A briefing to Tourism Minister John Key warns government policy coupled with increasing demand from international tourists could lead to "negative outcomes for New Zealanders".

Mixed reaction to charge [1]

Those included congestion in national parks, more lower-value visitors, environmental degradation and inefficient infrastructure investment.

The briefing from the Ministry of Economic Development states access to major government-owned tourism assets was "often free or heavily subsidised".

"So, increasing demand from non-residents in such cases may not translate into value for New Zealand."

The briefing mentions "differential pricing" noting that posed challenges that needed to be worked through, but that it was used in many other places.

Under the heading "Capturing greater value from international visitors", the briefing warns of problems providing infrastructure in areas with small rating bases and very high tourism numbers.

Tourism Industry Association policy and research manager Simon Wallace warned any move to charge international visitors for accessing assets such as national parks was unlikely to be welcomed by the industry.

"There are a lot of tourism concessionaires operating in national parks who guide and host international visitors anyway, so international visitors are contributing by booking trips." He cited Department of Conservation research showing tourism concessions generated $51 million a year in Fiordland National Park, and a further $13 million in a flow-on effect for the Southland region.

Southland district Mayor Frana Cardno said "national parks are there for everyone", including international visitors.

"We are charging in lots of places. People are paying to walk the Milford Track."

Mrs Cardno said she supported a tax charged on arrival at international airports, which could pay for essential tourism infrastructure and alleviate the ratepayer burden for small tourism centres.

A spokeswoman for the Tourism Minister, Prime Minister John Key, confirmed officials were looking at the issue of regions with small rating bases and high tourism numbers "because of the infrastructure challenges they face".

"That work is ongoing, and the Prime Minister has not received any advice on the issue yet, and therefore has not formed a view."

Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said the briefing paper was a discussion document that "was raising questions rather than giving answers".

"If the prime minister wants to take this forward, then those questions need to go to consultation, and from a Destination Queenstown point of view we would be very pleased to participate in such a consultation process."

Tourism Dunedin chief executive Hamish Saxton said getting a return on assets, including perhaps museums such as Te Papa and even cycle trails, was "a discussion worth having".

"Perhaps you have to ask yourself if these assets are a golden goose."

In the year ending March 2011, tourism contributed $9.7 billion in export earnings - 16.8% of New Zealand's total exports of goods and services.

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright is expected to release a report this year on commercial use of conservation land.

hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz [2]





National
National Parks

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Source URL (retrieved on 12/02/2012 - 08:27): http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/1971 ... onal-parks

Links:
[1] http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/otago/1971 ... ion-charge
[2] mailto:hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz

[climberman]

Wow, visitor fees for internationals, higher fishing licence fees for internationals... you guys gunna have two sets of bowsers at the petrol station soon ?

[wayno]

Wow, visitor fees for internationals, higher fishing licence fees for internationals... you guys gunna have two sets of bowsers at the petrol station soon ?

it's turning into a user pays govt. when national got into power they cut 50mil of DOC's budget and advised them to get closer with private companies to make money, they are talking about selling off state owned assets. want to buy a national park?

[Lindsay]

It would be very sad to see New Zealand join the ranks of the money grubbing tourist traps that charge foreigners extra.

[abmacus]

We actually already have fees for National Parks in WA. Is this something not done in other parts of Australia?
There is a degree of flexibility. You can buy an all parks permit for a year for about $80 right up to $110 and get a free annual subscription to Landscope.
If you are a local you get a special pass for $110 per year
If you want to get in for free you can walk in or ride.
Camping is extra, and in places like Draftys campsite includes a wicked camp kithchen, with often empty gas bottles
If you want to see how effectively the money is spent you can take a trip to Kalbarri National Park along with the 10s of thousands of other visitors annually and drive the corragation highway thats just at best a dirt track