Visitor Visa to New Zealand Just Got 3 TIMES More Expensive

Well, according to the latest immigration news, New Zealand's decided to triple the tourist tax. Yes, if you thought it was expensive to visit before, just wait until October 1st when the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) jumps from NZ$35 to NZ$100. Why? Because the government reckons the international visitors who come for the lakes, the mountains, and the bike trails are costing the locals a fair bit. Infrastructure strain, maintenance costs on the conservation estates—someone’s got to foot the bill, and it's not going to be the Kiwis.

Now, the tourism industry isn’t thrilled about it. Tourism Industry Aotearoa has come out swinging, saying the price hike will put New Zealand's recovery behind the rest of the world. While other countries like Canada and the UK are rolling out the welcome mat with cheaper entry fees, New Zealand seems to be doubling down on keeping tourists out.

You’ve got to ask—does the government think this will actually make New Zealand more competitive on the world stage? I mean, sure, it’s a beautiful country, but there’s a limit to what people are willing to pay, and they might just decide to take their travel dollars elsewhere. More tourists spent billions here last year, but do we really want to put that at risk?

Plus, the costs don't stop there. Visa fees are going up as well—from NZ$131 to NZ$211—so by the time a family of four from the US or Japan gets their paperwork sorted and pays the new levy, they’re already hundreds of dollars out of pocket before they’ve even booked a hotel.

It’s a bold move by the government. But is it the right one? Only time will tell if the world’s travellers are willing to pay the extra premium to see Middle Earth in person or if they’ll head off to Canada instead.