22 May 2024

Should international visitors pay to access national parks

From Checkpoint, 4:29 pm on 22 May 2024

Tourism operators think international visitors should pay to access our national parks to help cover costs. The Department of Conservation is facing major financial headwinds and says it can't afford to maintain its assets which are are under increasing pressure from visitor congestion. Officials have told the Conservation Minister he should consider more user charges and raising existing fees - which he hasn't ruled out. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.