Auckland is planning to join the global trend to charge a levy to the travellers, who will opt to stay in the city.
The newly elected Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff, has disclosed the proposal on Monday, 28th November. In the budget proposal, the Mayor has disclosed a plan to implement a levy on the hotels and the other accommodations across the city. He has also informed that the scheme can help the city to raise almost $20 million to $30 million.
In order to make money from the tourist arrivals in the city, the central and the local governments use departure and arrival taxes, hotelroom taxes, taxes for rented vehicles, meal taxes etc.
On Monday, 28th November, the Australian Government has introduced a ‘backpacker tax’ of 15 per cent on the travellers. According to the tourism industry professionals, this move can drive the travellers towards New Zealand.
The authorities in the United States also charges international travellers with a $14 tax after their arrival. The majority of the amount is used for travel promotion in the country.
Tourism authorities in Italy have decided to introduce a number of local tourist taxes in the year 2011. But the Tassa di soggiorno usually vary from region to region, where the travellers are charged according to their hotel’s star ratings, parking fees, coach permits and VAT. According to sources, a seven-night tour to the country can charge an individual traveller more than $106 only for the coach fees and the hotel taxes.
The small country of Bhutan, which is situated in the lap of the Himalayas, charges an international traveller $353 per day for accommodation, transportation, food, entry fee and guide. An additional surcharge of $42 to $56 can be applicable if the traveller chooses to travel in a group of two or less.
The latest proposal disclosed by Mayor Phil Goff of Auckland has been criticised by the tourism sector in Auckland. The chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Chris Roberts has informed that the council should not try to fleece the golden goose, instead of supporting the tourism growth in the region. The spokeswoman for Hospitality New Zealand, Rachael Shadbolt has informed that the new levy can put people off from coming to the region, even if it is just a surcharge of $6-10.
