Tourism levy backed if used well

A tourism advocacy group says it will accept a new border levy for international travellers, as long as the money is used to benefit visitor experience in New Zealand.

Australians and people from most Pacific Island Forum countries would be exempt.

In a parliamentary submission, Tourism Industry Aotearoa said it supported the tax, because the sector had been struggling under the strain of intense economic growth.

"The pace of growth has exposed decades of infrastructure underinvestment by central and local government," the submission said.

"It is widely accepted across industry and government that New Zealand must address current and approaching public infrastructure deficits, respond to community concerns and build future industry capability."

The group said a survey of tourism operators indicated that most were also in favour of the levy, but wanted the profits to be directed into areas that would benefit the overall sector.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa said it had identified five key areas for investment which included Department of Conservation land used by tourists, infrastructure, communities with high visitor numbers, schemes to improve business capability and research and development.

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