New Zealand’s tourism levy increase will “hurt” its travel and tourism sector, warns IATA

The New Zealand Government has decided to increase the international visitor conservation and tourism levy (IVL). It is a move the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said will “hurt” the country’s travel and tourism sector. The move follows the New Zealand government increasing visitor visas by 62% from October this year. “It has been a double whammy for the New Zealand travel and tourism sector, starting with New Zealand Immigration announcing steep increases in visa fees, and now the increase in the IVL,” said IATA’s interim regional vice president for North Asia and Asia-Pacific Xie Xingquan. The IVL is increasing