Lazy politicians want to put tariffs on tourism.
Having finished cleaning the stains on the chaise longue in the mayoral office, Auckland's new boss Phil Goff has set about putting an extra tariff on visitors to our city — raising another petty reason for people to choose to fly elsewhere for their holidays.
While Goff has his sights set on Auckland hotel rooms, the outgoing Prime Minister and occasional Minister of Tourism John Key — not a known fan of taxation — went a step further, saying that if we're going to ping hotels in Auckland, we should ping them everywhere. This comes after Key's introduction last year of a levy that adds about $28 to the cost of a trip to Aotearoa. The Green Party wants to increase it by $18.
When dairy was booming, the Government fell over itself in a mad dash to remove red tape and provide tax breaks for farmers. When big filmmakers come to town they get to choose their own tax rates and rewrite labour laws. But when tourism booms, politicians race in to slap haphazard tariffs on otherwise thriving enterprises. Tourists, it seems, are regarded as the most milkable cash cow. Is this the only way the likes of Goff and Key can think of to prosper from this terrific sector? The lack of imagination would be laughable if it weren't so sad.
Tourists — domestic and foreign — spend around $95m each day. The economic activity they stir up while here — from the PAYE of people employed to guide them to the taxes paid by restaurants to feed them — is a great return.
