Extra support is being provided to tourism businesses operating on public conservation land announced Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage last week.

The Government is providing $25m worth of support to tourism operators impacted by COVID-19, with a decision to waive most Department of Conservation tourism related concession fees from March 1, 2020, until June 30, 2021. The community services fees, which are like local councils rates and pay for waste and water services in National Parks will remain in place.

“There are approximately 1000 tourism concessionaires who operate on public conservation land who won’t have to worry about activity based, management, or monitoring fees until mid-next year,” said Eugenie Sage.

The Government is also rolling out the $1.3 billion jobs for nature package which will support thousands of people such as tourism guides impacted by COVID-19.

– TIN Bureau