Tourism wants DOC fee discount
The Department of Conservation’s revenue is likely to take a hit as the coronavirus pandemic restricts domestic and international travel.
Last year, the department earned $27.2 million from concessions fees, leases and licences.
The Tourism Export Council is among the industry bodies pressing for DOC to charge no concession fees for 12 months.
DOC was also in line to receive half the $80m raised annually through the international visitor levy introduced last year, but border closures and the possibility of a long recovery period mean income from that source is likely to drop too.
Recreation and tourism concessionaires make up about 1000 of the 4500 that run activities on DOC land, and they have been given a month’s grace to pay fees due this month while the department considers what support it might offer.
The department declined to reveal how much it may have to forgo in concession fees if operators couldn’t afford to pay, saying this was ‘‘sensitive information’’.
However, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has promised financial relief for concessionaires, saying it was a difficult time for tourism operators.
Options included refunds for concession fees that had been paid in advance, extensions to payment terms, deferring applications for renewals, and waiving administration fees for incomplete applications and reviews.
Sage said the department was dealing with recreation and tourism concession holders case by case and this may result in DOC waiving concession fees and/or writing off debts.
‘‘If tourism and recreation concession holders are experiencing financial hardship they should contact DOC to discuss their situation.
‘‘DOC is working with central agencies on an all-of-government approach to debtors that is equitable, while maintaining good financial practice.’’
Active Adventures pays up to $60,000 a year in concession fees for the guided walks it operates on DOC land. Chief executive Wendy van Lieshout said the business was preparing to target the domestic market, but until that began to take effect its revenue had ‘‘stopped dead’’.
‘‘Ideally we’d like to see relief from DOC for 12 months, which will take us through the next summer season and will greatly assist with cashflow at a time when we’ll be trying our best to reinvigorate the New Zealand and, hopefully, the Aussie markets.’’
The Government is also reviewing use of the $35 per head international visitor levy collected as part of a new electronic travel authority. The levy was to be split between tourism and conservation projects, and the review will look at how it could be used as part of a tourism restart package.