NZ to charge tourists for entry into national parks

New Zealand will start charging tourists up to NZ40 (A37 $) to visit the most popular touristic places such as Milford Track and Mount Cook while looking for ways to encourage economic growth.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon presented a plan to reform the 1987 Protection Law, where the government aims to establish a new privilege system to increase the tourism sector while creating wages on popular sites.

“The release of economic growth in one -third of New Zealand territory will create business throughout the country and increase wages,” Luxon said in a statement. He said.

In 2024, New Zealand welcomed approximately three million tourists with an increase of 13 percent compared to the previous year.

In October, the NZ traveled the tourist entry fee to $ NZ100 to help balance the cost of public services and the cost of protection of national heritage.

The government initially said that the fee will often consider introducing places where foreigners often make up 80 percent of foreigners.

“Tourists make a great contribution to our economy and no one wants to change. But I have heard that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world free of charge.” He said.

Although NZ media organizations estimated that it would be in 2027, it has not yet stated when the government would begin to accept.

According to official figures, tourism constitutes 7.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of New Zealand.