Photo / Mark MitchellQueenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult supports any logical proposals for tourism that better look after the environment, but says a new report paints the industry as an "ogre". In a report released yesterday, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton proposed several policies aimed at drastically reducing the industry's impact on the environment. Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke said the proposals were in line with the "regen tourism" approach the industry was moving towards. In particular, he supported the idea of a departure tax, with the proceeds invested back into tourism-heavy communities and the environment. Of the four policies announced yesterday, the departure tax was the big-ticket item, Prof Higham said.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 18, 2021 19:08 UTC