Tourism Impacts May be Offset through Departure Levies
A departure tax, enforcing visitor limits in under pressure destinations and tighter controls on commercial operators have been flagged as part of an overhaul of the tourism industry in New Zealand. This may be built upon similar models already in place in nations such as Palau. Potential measures to offset the impact of tourism include the following:
- Introducing a departure tax that reflects the environmental cost of flying internationally from New Zealand, and uses the revenue to support the development of low-emissions aviation technologies and provide a source of climate finance for Pacific Island nations
- Making any future central government funding for tourism infrastructure conditional on environmental criteria and ensuring it is aligned with mana whenua and the local community’s vision for tourism development through destination management
- Clarifying and strengthening the tools the Department of Conservation (DOC) can use to address the loss of wilderness and natural quiet at some of Aotearoa’s most spectacular natural attractions. This includes tightening up rules around commercial activity on conservation lands and waters
- Strengthening the existing standard for self-contained freedom camping, improving oversight of the certifying process and requiring rental car agencies to play a greater role in collecting freedom camping infringement fees and fines
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