National must rule out bed tax on domestic traveller

Responding to the Prime Minister floating a potential bed tax on Newstalk ZB this morning, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“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."

“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."

“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.”