Sunshine Coast wants tax scrapped for Kiwis
Tourism operators are demanding that the departure tax on New Zealand visitors to be scrapped.
Kiwi passengers leaving Australia are charged $55 ($NZ70) and the Sunshine Coast tourism industry believes it is having a negative impact on its biggest source of international visitors.
Dreamtime Resorts director Garry McKenzie believes the high departure tax was deterring even more Kiwis from visiting the Sunshine Coast as 76,000 did in the last financial year. “The Kiwis are part of our bread and butter market of mum dad and the kids and are a huge part of our inbound tourism and they stay at serviced apartments and camping grounds so the domestic holiday industry benefits.”
Rumba Beach Resort general manager Bill Darby said that considering the fragile state of the recovering economy it was vital the government introduced initiatives to boost tourism numbers.
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia are to renew flights again next year between Auckland and Maroochydore following a successful trial this year.
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