Travel: New Zealand triples tourist tax

Nitul Gajjar

The Zealand government has recently announced a tripling of the tourist tax levied on visitors. Until now, the New Zealand government used to collect 35 dollars as tourist tax, which amount has now been increased to 100 dollars and this change will be implemented from October 1. This increase is due to the fact that people coming to New Zealand choose to help in the economic development of this country. However, there is no tourist tax in India. Only the tour package purchased by people going abroad from India has to be taxed. Thus, New Zealand is the best place to experience Maori culture, besides being an island country, interesting topography, beautiful beaches, volcanic nature, etc. make New Zealand a fun place to travel, but this country is located at the far end of the Pacific Ocean. . Due to which the number of tourists coming here is less compared to other Pacific countries. New Zealand closed its doors to visitors for two and a half years during the Corona epidemic. As of August, 2022, entry to New Zealand was opened for tourists, but since then the number of visitors to the country has not increased as expected. So the New Zealand government has decided to increase the tourist tax. Is it worth spending 100 dollars to go to New Zealand? Yes absolutely, $100 is only three percent of the average cost of tourists to New Zealand, which is about Rs 5,100. Such an increase will not bother any foreign traveller. There are many unique things to see, do and experience in New Zealand. The fictional village 'Shire' featured in the very popular 'Lord of the Rings' films is actually Matamata in New Zealand. Even today the set of the film is preserved here. Visitors can enjoy everything from stopping at the iconic hobbit house to strolling through their fields. Several other scenes in the series were also filmed in New Zealand, as Weta Workshop, one of the ten largest film studios in the world, is also located here in Wellington. Maori Village Tamaki New Zealand has a prominent influence of Maori civilization. Thus, although English is the main language used in this country, many people still speak Maori. Some of the villages here have been developed as Maori Villages by the Department of Tourism. One such village is Tamaki whose visit will be memorable. One can also visit the Auckland Museum to understand the Maori culture. There are many active volcanoes near New Zealand. So there are hot springs in hundreds of places in this country. Not to be missed is the privilege of bathing in Pohutu Geyser and Wai O Island's unique wonders of nature. How to reach New Zealand? Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. Direct flights are available from all countries of the world including India. Apart from this, flights are available from India for Wellington as well. If someone from India is going to New Zealand and wants to experience it all, the per capita cost is about four lakh rupees. There are also options to travel to New Zealand at a lower cost. For which one can go to the official website of New Zealand Tourism and plan a trip according to their interest. If you want to enjoy a cruise in New Zealand, make a booking in advance. A person who wants to go to New Zealand from India has to get a visa. An Indian citizen is eligible for a tourist visa of up to nine months, which can be applied for online. Not every Indian item is allowed to be carried into New Zealand. If you want to avoid the $4000 fine, check the list of banned content in this country. About which you will get more information at https://www.newzealand.com/in/. what to eat The Maori civilization has inhabited the area for centuries. Living on the island, they have included a variety of wild vegetables in their diet. So if you have to go to New Zealand, definitely taste the food of the Maori people. Also the wines and beers of this area are appreciated. As the climate of New Zealand is also suitable for cheese, one can enjoy the experience of tasting different types of cheese here. With a generally favorable climate, this country grows a wide variety of fresh and local fruits. Due to which New Zealand fruit salad adds a unique flavor. If you have to visit this country, you must eat fruit salad once.}