The local tourism boss is looking forward to hearing more about changes to tourism funding in the government’s recent budget.

Lake Wānaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods said he was encouraged to see $32M from the International Visitor Levy (IVL) allocated to support tourism related infrastructure. 

“We look forward to hearing more about how this will benefit our region,” he told the Wānaka App.

Mat said it was also good to see the introduction of an investment boost for businesses, which will allow tourism operators to deduct a further 20 percent from the cost of new assets and equipment in the year they’re purchased. 

“This will have an impact on cashflow, encouraging business owners who are considering upgrading their plant and equipment to do it now,” he said. 

In general, the budget - which the government called ‘the Growth Budget’ - named tourism related projects among its initiatives to drive economic growth.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was “growing tourism by investing international visitor fees into tourism and conservation upgrades in popular areas”.

Changes to tourism funding include an extra $20M per annum through the IVL and Tourism Levy - thanks to a recent increase in the rate each visitor pays upon entry to New Zealand to $100.

The Department of Conservation has been allocated an extra $32M over four years for committed levy-funded projects “to boost biodiversity and the tourist economy”.

PHOTO: Lake Wānaka Tourism