New tourism push invites 'digital nomads' to NZ - but at what cost to locals?

The Government wants to see tourism numbers increase as part of its economic growth push.

As part of that push, the existing visitor visa scheme will be tweaked to include welcoming ‘digital nomads’.

That will allow tourists from visa waiver countries up to nine months to travel around New Zealand while still working for their overseas employer.

The scheme has already been greeted with expressions of interest from overseas, but the introduction of digital nomad visas in some countries has contributed to a local backlash against tourism.

Today on The Front Page, Strategic Director of the Hotel Council Aotearoa, James Doolan, joins us to discuss the state of tourism in this country, and Spanish journalist Marta Bausells discusses the issues faced in Barcelona as a result of the scheme.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

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