Famous tourist destinations in New Zealand could begin to charge tourists.

Five well-known tourism destinations with 2.6 million annual visitors are being targeted by the government.

In an attempt to preserve some of the nation's most famous sites, New Zealand is thinking of charging tourists.

The government is looking for input on taxing both local and foreign tourists at five popular tourist destinations that get 2.6 million visitors annually.

It is the largest possible shift in conservation in more than thirty years, according to the conservation minister.

According to Tama Potaka, "we're also consulting on a proposal to introduce access charges for some public conservation areas."

 

"Access fees are used extensively around the world to support the sustainable maintenance of popular sites."

The New Zealand government plans to charge $20 and $30 access fees for Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Franz Josef Glacier, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to New Zealanders and foreigners, with the fees expected to generate $71m annually.

New Zealand's ecosystems are declining, with nearly 4,000 native species at risk or threatened with extinction. 

The Department of Conservation is only holding the line on access fees, unlike countries like the US, UK, Japan, and Australia that charge fees to control visitor numbers and generate revenue. The government plans to modernize conservation land management.

Forest and Bird, an independent conservation organisation, has criticized a proposal to grant free access to public conservation land to New Zealanders. 

They argue that connecting to nature is a fundamental part of being a New Zealander and that all New Zealanders should have the ability to connect with their natural environment. 

Mr Potaka, however, does not hold a firm view on whether New Zealanders have an inalienable right to free access to public conservation land.