Q’town mayor asked to look at GST option, not levy
JIM Boult has published an open letter on the QLDC website regarding the proposed visitor levy.
He accuses the local accommodation sector of providing ‘‘commentary based on assumption and perhaps in some cases deliberate misinformation’’.
The QLDC is proposing to introduce a bed tax on accommodation providers which will raise $35 million annually, yet has not once consulted with the accommodation providers or provided any detail of the proposal.
The mayor is quoted in print numerous times saying the bed tax will have no effect on the accommodation providers’ businesses or the wider tourist sector. But there is no economic analysis to support these statements.
He says adding $35 million annually to the cost of accommodation will not change visitors’ accommodation choices, length of stay or affect the other activities they book. Everyone knows if you put up the price, demand is reduced. Adding $35 million to the cost of accommodation is sure to dent demand.
The QLDC is keen for the visitors to pay, but the visitors are already paying. GST collected from the tourist spend in the district last year was $473 million. If just 10% of this GST was returned to the QLDC, the problem would be gone.
All we want is for the mayor to engage with the accommodation providers and let us help the QLDC to give the Government a compelling argument it cannot ignore. Peter Sutherland
Wanaka
[Abridged]
Church fan
SHOULD the Maori Hill church be demolished? My opinion is no! Because builders have spent multiple hours building it and it has taken their time and effort to make it look so good.
I like having it in our community and it is very special to the people who use it. My brother and sister also used it for their leavers’ dinner and it has got lots of very special memories.
I would also like to use it for my leavers’ dinner from Maori Hill School, rather than having it knocked down.
I am a 9yearold and I like learning about history and having old buildings in our community. Please do not knock it down! Imogen Leaper
Dunedin