Has any International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy revenue been used to offset or reduce other Crown expenditure that would otherwise have been funded from general taxation, and if so what is the total value of that offset since the levy was introduced?

Answer

Within my portfolio, Budget 2024 allocated the following International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy revenue amounts to Tourism New Zealand's baseline: 2024/25: $0.145 million 2025/26: $0.024 million 2026/27: $13.899 million 2027/28: $13.899 million 2028/29 and outyears: $13.899 million. In addition, from 2024/25 there is a variable amount of International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy revenue available for existing activity within tourism and conservation. The amount in any year depends on the amount of International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy revenue collected. I refer the member to the Estimated IVL Revenue and Expenditure: 2019/20 to 2028/29 table located on the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment's website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/tourism/tourism-funding/international-visitor-conservation-and-tourism-levy/what-is-the-ivl.