Australia and New Zealand Have These Tourism Taxes that Travellers Need to Take Note of in 2026

AustraliaandNew Zealandare making significant strides in the evolution of theirtourism industriesin2026, with new travel taxes andvisitor leviesset to shape the experience of international travelers. These changes, driven by a focus onsustainabilityandtourism infrastructure, aim to balance the growing influx of visitors with the need to preserve natural landscapes and support local economies. WithAustraliaintroducing local levies andNew Zealandcontinuing itsInternational Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), travelers should prepare for these updates that will impact their travel costs in the coming year.

Australia’s Approach to Tourism Taxation

1. Short Stay Levy (SSL) in Victoria

InAustralia, the most notable tourism-related tax that will continue into2026is theShort Stay Levy (SSL). This tax, currently implemented inVictoria, applies to short-termaccommodation staysof less than28 nightsand is set at7.5%of thebooking cost. This levy was introduced in response to growing demand for tourism-related infrastructure in the state, specifically to help fund the maintenance and development of tourism facilities.

TheSSLremains one of the morelocalized tourism taxesinAustralia, applying only to visitors who stay in paid accommodations withinVictoria. As this levy has been in place for several years, it will continue to apply in2026. Travelers planning to visitMelbourneor other major cities inVictoriashould be aware that thislevywill be added to the total cost of their accommodation booking. (trippz.com)

2. Passenger Movement Charge (PMC)

ThePassenger Movement Charge (PMC)is another existing tax that remains unchanged in2026. Thisflat taxis charged to international travelers leavingAustralia, currently set atA$70per departing passenger aged over 12. The PMC helps fund border security and immigration services and is applied at allinternational airportsacross the country. Though this tax is not new, it is an important consideration for those traveling toAustraliain2026. (en.wikipedia.org)

While these two taxes represent the main forms oftourism-related feesinAustralia, there are no new nationaltourism taxesbeing implemented for 2026. However, there are ongoing discussions at thestate level, particularly inQueensland, about introducing a“bed tax”orvisitor levyto generate funding for tourism infrastructure. These discussions are still in the early stages, and no official tax has been confirmed for 2026. (news.com.au)

New Zealand’s Tourism Taxes and Visitor Fees in 2026

1. International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)

InNew Zealand, theInternational Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)continues to be a central aspect of the country’stourism tax system. Introduced in2019, the IVL is aflat feeofNZ$100that is charged to most international visitors applying for avisaorNew Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). The fee helps fundconservation efforts,tourism infrastructure, andenvironmental sustainabilityprograms, ensuring that the benefits of tourism extend to preserving the natural beauty of the country.

For visitors toNew Zealandin2026, theIVLwill remain a significant part of the travel experience, contributing to efforts to protect the country’snatural attractions. It’s important for tourists to be aware of this fee, as it is typically added during the visa application process or when applying for anNZeTA. (immigration.govt.nz)

2. Site-Specific Visitor Fees

In addition to theIVL,New Zealandis expected to introducesite-specific visitor feesfor entry to certainnatural attractionsby2026. These fees will be charged for access to popular tourist spots likeMilford Sound,Cathedral Cove, andTongariro Crossing, where maintenance and environmental management costs are high. The fees will range betweenNZ$20andNZ$40per visitor, with the funds directed towards the upkeep of the sites and preservation of the surrounding ecosystems.

This approach is designed to helpmanage visitor impacton sensitive environments while ensuring that the country’stourism economyremains sustainable. It also helps manage the growing pressure from increasinginternational visitors, particularly toNew Zealand’siconic natural destinations. (travelmole.com)

Green Travel and Eco‑Tourism Focus in Both Countries

BothAustraliaandNew Zealandhave committed to enhancingeco‑tourismin their respective regions, with both countries introducinggreen mobility infrastructureandeco-friendly travel solutionsto attract environmentally conscious tourists. In2026, this will include an expanded network ofelectric vehicle (EV) charging stationsandgreen transport optionsto encourage sustainable travel and reduce the carbon footprint of tourism.

These green initiatives are part of a broader push to aligntourism with sustainability goals, supporting bothenvironmentalandeconomicbenefits. Withelectric buses,trains, andferriesin place for tourists, visitors to bothAustraliaandNew Zealandwill have more eco-friendly travel options as part of their trip. (travelandtourworld.com)

Future Prospects and Additional Considerations

In2026, bothAustraliaandNew Zealandwill continue to monitor the effectiveness of theirtourism taxesand explorenew solutionsto improve the sustainability of their tourism industries. The introduction oftourism taxmodels and theIVLinNew Zealandprovide a framework for balancingvisitor demandswithconservation efforts, while theShort Stay LevyinVictoriaand potential future regional taxes inAustraliawill help fund tourism infrastructure projects.

As tourism continues to grow in both countries,travelerswill increasingly be asked to contribute to thepreservationof the sites they visit, whether through generalvisitor leviesorsite-specific fees. These charges are seen as necessary to ensure the long-term viability of bothAustralia’sandNew Zealand’s tourism sectors, and will continue to play an important role in their sustainable tourism strategies.

Conclusion

Thetourism tax landscapeinAustraliaandNew Zealandin2026reflects a growing trend towardsustainabilityandenvironmental responsibility. Asvisitor levies,site-specific fees, andgreen travel solutionsbecome more widespread, travelers will need to be aware of these newchargesand their role in maintaining the natural beauty and infrastructure of these countries. With the implementation of these technologies and taxes, both countries are taking proactive steps to ensure that their tourism industries continue to thrive while balancing the need forenvironmental stewardship.