NZ slams Aussie airport tax hike
Tourism industry leaders in New Zealand have critcised a planned 17% hike in Australia’s airport departure tax.
Australia’s Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) will be raised from AU$47 to AU$55 (US$47-55) from 1 July, and the Chairman of Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA), Norm Thompson, said the move was a “slap in the face” to the tourism industries in both countries.
“The increase will be a barrier to the almost 1.2 million Australians who travel to New Zealand annually,” said Thompson.
“We have been pushing for a seamless border experience that will increase the flow of trans-Tasman travel, with streamlined border processing and ‘mates rates’ to halve the PMC for Kiwis and Australians.
“Instead the Australian Government has imposed this hefty increase on a tax that is already high. A family of four Aussies holidaying in New Zealand will have to pay NZ$280 (US$217) departure tax just to leave their country,” Thomson added.