Has the existence of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy resulted in any adjustment to baseline funding for conservation programmes administered by the Department of Conservation, and if so what was the value of those adjustments over the last three financial years?

Answer

The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy funds Conservation in two ways. There is an annual allocation of $55 million approved for discretionary new investment. This new investment is for additional work that is not funded by the existing baseline. IVL revenue received above the $55 million for new spending will continue to be invested within the Conservation portfolio to maintain overall levels of baseline funding, replacing other Crown revenue (i.e. “a baseline swap”).