The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has strongly called on the Government not to impose a bed tax for domestic travellers.
Following comments made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has hit back at any suggestion of a bed tax for domestic travellers.
Union spokesperson Tory Relf said that the Prime Minister needs to categorically rule out slapping domestic travellers with yet another tax.
“Make no mistake: a bed tax won’t just hit overseas tourists staying in flash hotels. If it applies to domestic travellers, it would hit Kiwis staying at DOC campsites or the local TOP 10 holiday park," said Relf.
“Previous research by Tourism Industry Aotearoa found only 30 percent of international visitors stay in commercial accommodation. That means a bed tax risks falling mostly on Kiwis, not tourists."
Relf said New Zealanders travelling around their own country, whether for work, family, or holidays, should not be caught up in a tourist tax.
“If the Government wants to target international visitors, it should say so clearly. But domestic travellers must be off the table.”
This is the second wave this year that the Government has loosely floated the idea of a bed tax on domestic travel. In March, fellow New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Josh Van Veen, said that during the worst cost-of-living crisis in recent memory, and families and businesses already stretched to breaking point, the last thing they need is another tax grab.
“Make no mistake: a ‘bed tax’ won’t just hit tourists. It will land squarely on the shoulders of New Zealanders travelling domestically for work, family, or holidays,” said Van Veen.
Previous research by Tourism Industry Aotearoa found that only 30 percent of international visitors stay in commercial accommodation, meaning the majority of this tax would be paid by Kiwis, not tourists.
“If councils are so desperate to attract concerts and sporting events, they should start by reprioritising their bloated spending rather than reaching into taxpayers’ pockets yet again.”
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