There's doubts a potential raising of the international visitor levy will impact tourism numbers. 

Overseas visitors pay $35 collected through visa applications, which is evenly split between conservation and tourism. 

Speaking at the TRENZ conference, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says that advice he's received shows it would have to rise to about $42 in today's market. 

Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that's just the cost of business. 

He says to expect the same value from that $35 today is to ignore everything we've always had. 

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