“Disappointment” is the initial response from Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers to the government’s decision to triple the amount of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka announced the increase on Tuesday (September 3), saying the move from $35 to $100 will ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand. 

Queenstown Lakes District Council’s submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in June said the distribution of funds from the IVL lacked “the rigour, the scale, and the targeting” to address the real impacts of tourism.

Read more: Council underwhelmed by effectiveness of international visitor levy

“We haven’t seen a track record of spending that levy in places that really need it,” Glyn said.

Glyn Lewers: “The whole tourism structure needs a bit of a shake up.” PHOTO: Supplied 

He told the Wānaka App the decision to increase the levy provided “no further clarity” on how the money should be spent, with it remaining “opaque in how it’s dished out”, he said.

Glyn said he expected the government will once again make accessing IVL funds a competitive process, repeating “the same mistakes”.

Glyn said one in three international visitors come through the Queenstown Lakes district; the district provides 20 percent of visitor nights, second only to Auckland; and Queenstown is the third largest airport by international visitors, but IVL spending here “doesn’t stack up”.

“The system behind it is flawed. There’s no clarity of purpose,” he said.

The tourism industry is disappointed in the decision to increase the IVL, he said, adding that feedback he has had from tourism operators suggests they are also concerned with the direction of Tourism NZ (TNZ. a Crown entity tasked with promoting New Zealand), citing that international marketing “is not hitting the mark”, and “stakeholder engagement has been absolutely lacking”.

“You’ll see more from Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism telling our stories overseas,” he added.

“Fundamentally the whole tourism structure needs a bit of a shake up. From what I can see we haven’t moved on from the early 90s.”

Glyn said QLDC has been talking to central government about these issues and will continue to do so.

Lake Wānaka Tourism was approached for comment.

The change in the IVL takes place from October 1.