Irked by overcrowded streets and high cost of living due to tourism, the residents of Queenstown have spoken.
Locals in New Zealand’s tourist hotspot have overwhelmingly voted in favour of taxing visiting tourists.
More than 81% voted for a tourist levy which would be processed through a bed tax.
Local authorities have long been struggling how to fund sufficient tourism infrastructure and facilities with limited local tax revenues.
Last year the town received 3.3 million visitors.
"We’re just starting to creak a little at the seams and we need to future-proof the place," Queenstown mayor Jim Boult said.
"They think it’s completely unfair they are having to shoulder the infrastructure spend for the jewel in the crown of New Zealand’s largest industry themselves … We’ve been looking for a way to share the load."
The central government recently green-lighted a tourism tax of $35 for foreign arrivals, not including Australia and the Pacific Islands.
However local officials believe it won’t get the required funding it needs from this alone.
A local tax would need to be cleared by the central government.
"The accommodation providers in the district are legitimately concerned about the potential impact on their businesses. We agree that something has to be done. If Queenstown is not working properly then the rest of New Zealand suffers … There is definitely a case for central government assistance," said Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief Chris Roberts.
