The Queensland state government is considering a proposal that could see it levy a tax on tourists and a tax on national park visitors.
The plan, put forward by Queensland’s expert Tourism Industry Reference Panel, would see local governments impose the tax on tourists, with all the income used to invest in tourism development and marketing. The tax on national park visitors would be used to fund park running costs and reinvest in the natural attractions.
“We can’t expect the state government to do all the heavy lifting as we grow the visitor economy,” the report said. “If we give destinations, or local governments, the option to apply a focused tourism enhancement levy, they can raise money to support and grow the visitor economy.”
The panel said the idea of a visitor levy was not a new one.
“It has been modelled, canvassed and debated for the best part of a decade,” the panel’s report said. “While we appreciate that views are polarised as to whether it is an appropriate way to raise funding, everyone we spoke with saw a greater need than ever for increased funding during the Covid‑19 recovery period.”
Queensland’s tourism minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, welcomed the panel’s report, saying the government was considering all the recommendations, including the taxes.
“Some of the recommendations are ambitious and will need further consideration and consultation with the tourism industry,” he said. “It sets ambitious goals because Queensland needs to be bold to achieve long-term success, or risk being left behind.”
The Tourism Industry Reference Panel said the Canadian province of British Columbia has allowed tourist regions, such as the resort of Whistler, to impose a similar visitor tax for 30 years and this had provided the funding needed to ‘promote, improve and enhance the otherwise small hilltop village’.
The report said local governments needed to be able choose whether to adopt a visitor tax and how it would work.
“One model for the whole state is unlikely to work,” the panel said. “Any mechanism needs to be flexible – able to be varied at the local council/destination level to suit local circumstances.”
Any tax imposed will be swallowed up in payng the wages & overheads of collecting that tax.
I think its a good idea, it should be collected at border control points. Maybe a nominal about of $10 per person.
border control points?? you want to go back to the bad covid days with border checks and permits??
if anything it will be a tax on overnight stays in tourist locations. not everyone visiting another state is a tourist and everyone, queenslanders included, will have to pay it when staying at such location…
Why not a toll gate at the border which can get the Queenslanders returning home also!!
Just another reason to not go back to Queensland. If you don’t want tourists there, tax them, and they will stop coming. Next thing these governments, will want us to pay a toll to use the local roads, that is not far away at all.
I just spent two days trying to get a fossicing licence , was sent from Emerald to Sapphire to Rubyvale to Willows to find online is the only way to do it, I can’t do online when I’m traveling, also saying you can book your campsite a couple months ahead, nomads we don’t know the exact day we will arrive, I wasn’t going to be in SA for a couple more months but all the roads to NT were flooded, so you want a park fee ok, make it reasonable and easy to get and we will do it happily, make it dear and online only No not going to bother.
This is the reason why we stopped using nat. parks, they went online, and stopped you from just rocking up anywhere anytime. Apparently they are down, 70% in income as well, so I wonder why.
He’ll NO. It’s expensive enough just getting there
And the expensive caravan parks are out of control these days
We avoid Qld national parks due to the fees charged, the strict controls on where you may pitch your tent or park the Coaster and the morons that oversee the operation. After all they are public servants and should help as such.
You would think attractions which bring in tourists by default bring in spending across a wide range of business. The poultry few additional pennies collected by charging tourists would quickly be quickly eaten up by additional admin and enforcement costs. In no time at all visitor numbers would probably drop along with revenue possibly across the entire state but all the added costs will stay.
Makes you wonder!
Well I’ll never be going to Queensland .
It’s bad enough with rising fuel prices and the cost of living. If they apply a ‘tourist tax’ (revenue raising) tourists will avoid it like the plague. Seriously wake up to yourselves you so called experts.
A LGA sets a visitor tax, the next-door LGA doesn’t. Where do you think the visitors will go to.
If money is needed to make the area more attractive to tourists, then the beneficiaries should invest in their future and provide the funds.