Visiting New Zealand is about to get 3 times more expensive

New Zealand will almost triple the levy it charges foreign visitors, raising concerns that tourists could be put off as the industry struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism Minister Matt Doocey said on Tuesday the levy will increase to NZ$100 (US$62) from NZ$35, effective from October 1. It comes on top of a NZ$130 increase in the cost of visas for those visitors that require them to NZ$341, also from the start of next month.

“These changes make travel to New Zealand more expensive and less attractive and could further delay the recovery in visitor numbers to beyond 2026,” Xie Xingquan, International Air Transport Association regional vice-president for North Asia and Asia-Pacific, said in a statement.

“It has been a double whammy for the New Zealand travel and tourism sector, starting with New Zealand Immigration announcing steep increases in visa fees, and now the increase in the international visitor levy.”

Tourism was New Zealand’s largest export market before the Covid-19 pandemic, surpassing dairy exports, but it has struggled to recover because of reduced airline capacity and a delay in the resumption of travel from the key Chinese market.