Tourist tax to fund environmental research in national parks

New Zealand’s government is to use $40 million raised by a tourist tax to fund conservation projects and research into biosecurity risks associated with tourism in protected areas.

The initiative is part of a draft national tourism strategy launched on 6 November by tourism minister Kelvin Davis and conservation minister Eugenie Sage.

The funds will be raised by a $35 tourist tax announced earlier this year, which will apply to all international visitors except those from Australia and most Pacific Islands countries. The levy is expected to raise $80m annually, which will be split evenly between conservation and tourism projects.