Canadian Backpacker in Australia Raises Debate Over Visitor Levy

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Canadian Backpacker in Australia Raises Debate Over Visitor Levy

Canadian backpacker Morgan Wulff has embarked on a trip to Far North Queensland, swapping the cold weather of his homeland for the tropical climate of Australia. He is one of over 200,000 visitors arriving in Australia on a working holiday visa this year, coinciding with Cairns' tourism sector entering a quieter period.

In Cairns, discussions about a potential visitor levy are underway, with tourism operators and industry leaders meeting to explore ways to attract more visitors over the next two decades. The proposed levy, likened to a "bed tax," is aimed at generating funds for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the increasing number of tourists expected in the region each year.

While some, like Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, see the visitor levy as a solution to ease the burden on locals funding tourist infrastructure, opinions among travelers like Swiss backpacker Leonie Bruhin and German visitor Olivia Leisenberg are divided. They question the transparency and effectiveness of such levies, expressing concerns over how the funds would be utilized and how it might influence their travel choices within Australia.

The concept of a visitor levy in Queensland has gained varying levels of support, with Tourism Minister Andrew Powell noting that while some councils are in favor, others are against it. The potential implementation of a bed tax could hinge on feedback gathered during consultations regarding Queensland's 20-year tourism strategy, named Destination 2045. Stakeholders, such as Tourism Tropical North Queensland's chief executive Mark Olsen, point to existing charges like the environmental management fee on tickets to the Great Barrier Reef as evidence that levies do not deter tourists when tied to environmental conservation efforts.