Todd McClay - Tourism
27 September 2018
The Government continues to prove its only solutions to any issue are working groups or more taxes, with yet another tax
confirmed today, National’s Tourism spokesperson Todd McClay says.
“Hot on the heels of two new fuel taxes, including an additional 4 cents per litre being imposed on record petrol prices
on Sunday, the Government has confirmed a tourist tax.
“This is on top of more taxes on property, online goods and a likely Capital Gains Tax – as well as axing National’s
proposed tax cuts.
“National understands we need to spend more on tourism infrastructure, that’s why we significantly boosted investment
while we were in Government.
“But Labour’s latest tax is a flawed mess.
“Our largest tourism market, Australia, is exempt so the justification for the tax – to help pay for pressures created
by tourists, is undermined. And the administration costs of collecting the tax will suck up a chunk of the money raised.
“It’s important to note that tourism is one of our largest export earners and the benefits to New Zealand far outweigh
the costs.
“According to Deloitte, the Government already collects $3.27 billion a year in international tourism-related revenue
and spends $638 million on the industry, receiving a net gain of more than $2.6 billion.
“But these tourists don’t have to come here. We are already expensive to get to and the Government is driving up the
cost of living. If the Government continues to add more costs we’ll see fewer people choosing to travel here.
“This is a Government that loves to tax yet continues to recklessly spend that taxpayer money on poor priorities like
the $2.8 billion tertiary education bribe, $175 million so far on working groups as well as summits and keeping NZ First
happy. If it got its spending under control it wouldn’t need to keep adding new taxes.
“The Government continues to impose costs on the economy which are only going to slow growth. It needs to get its
spending under control and focus on growing the economy, not slowing it down.”
ends