Travelers are accustomed to budgeting for airfare, accommodations, meals, and activities. But there’s another expense increasingly showing up in the cost of a trip: fees designed to help destinations address the environmental impact of tourism.
What are they—and what are they for, exactly? Sometimes called green fees, conservation levies, or sustainable tourism fees, these charges ask visitors to contribute to protecting the places they’ve traveled to see. And while tourism taxes are nothing new, the connection between what travelers pay and a destination’s environmental needs is becoming more explicit. Money can go toward everything from conserving natural resources to preparing communities for the effects of climate change.
Here’s what travelers need to know about climate-focused tourism fees—and where you might encounter one on an upcoming trip.
Why are destinations introducing climate-focused tourism fees?
Tourism is an important source of revenue for destinations around the world. But welcoming millions of visitors each year also comes with costs.
More visitors can mean more pressure on beaches, parks, roads, waste systems, and other local resources. At the same time, many popular destinations are dealing with the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, erosion, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.
That's where tourism fees come in. Depending on the destination, the money collected from travelers might help:
- Protect beaches, parks, and other natural resources
- Restore ecosystems and wildlife habitats
- Prepare communities for extreme weather and other climate risks
- Improve waste management and other infrastructure
- Maintain popular tourist sites
- Manage the effects of overtourism
Keep in mind that not every tourism fee is specifically a climate fee. Some destinations use visitor levies for a combination of environmental protection, infrastructure improvements, cultural preservation, and tourism management. Either way, they're becoming a travel expense worth knowing about before you go.
Traveling to Hawaii? Your hotel stay now includes a Green Fee
If you're planning a trip to Hawaii, you won't have to remember to pay a separate environmental fee before you arrive. Instead, you'll see it reflected in the taxes on your accommodations.
As of January 1, 2026, Hawaii increased its Transient Accommodations Tax by 0.75 percentage points, bringing the state rate to 11%. The increase—known as the Green Fee—is designed to raise money for environmental stewardship, climate and hazard resilience, and sustainable tourism.
The fee applies to hotels and vacation rentals, so the amount you pay depends on the cost of your stay.
The good news for travelers? There's no additional application, website to visit, or QR code to keep track of. Just remember to factor taxes into your accommodations budget when comparing prices.
Heading to New Zealand? You might pay a NZD $100 visitor levy
For many international travelers visiting New Zealand, the environmental contribution happens before the trip even begins.
Most international visitors who need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) or certain visas pay the country's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, or IVL. The levy costs NZD $100 and helps support tourism infrastructure and conservation of New Zealand's natural environment.
Rather than paying the levy separately when you arrive, you'll typically pay it when you request your NZeTA or apply for an applicable visa.
Not every traveler has to pay it. For example, travelers using Australian or New Zealand passports are exempt, as are some other travelers.
Tip: Before an international trip, consult TripIt Pro Travel Guidance for any entry requirements. Fees like these can be tied to visas or electronic travel authorizations, meaning they're one more thing to take care of before you head to the airport.
Visiting Bali? Plan to pay the tourist levy before you arrive
International travelers to Bali may encounter another type of visitor fee. Unlike Hawaii's Green Fee, this isn't automatically rolled into your hotel bill.
Most foreign tourists visiting the Indonesian island are required to pay a one-time levy of IDR 150,000 per person. The money is intended to help protect Bali's natural environment as well as its culture, traditions, arts, and local heritage.
Travelers are encouraged to pay through Bali's official Love Bali system before arriving. Once you've paid, you'll receive a levy voucher with a QR code via email.
Tip: Save that email—or a screenshot of your QR code—in TripIt so you have all your travel documents at your fingertips.
Going to Venice for the day? Check whether the access fee applies
Venice offers a slightly different example of how destinations are asking visitors to contribute to managing tourism.
Rather than a climate or conservation fee, Venice charges certain day-trippers an access fee on select high-traffic dates. In 2026, travelers who paid at least four days before their visit were charged €5, while those who waited until closer to their visit paid €10.
The fee doesn't apply every day, and not every visitor has to pay it. Travelers staying overnight in accommodations within the Municipality of Venice, for example, are exempt from the access fee, though they may still need to register for an exemption.
How to prepare for tourism fees before your trip
The tricky thing about tourism fees is that there's no single way they're collected. You might pay one with your hotel bill, another while applying for an entry authorization, and another directly through a destination's website.
Before your next trip:
- Research your destination's entry requirements: While you're checking passport, visa, and travel authorization requirements, look for any visitor or tourism fees, too.
- Find out when you need to pay: Don't assume every fee is collected when you arrive. Some are cheaper—or easier—to pay in advance.
- Use official websites: If you need to pay a fee online, look for the destination's official government or tourism website rather than clicking the first sponsored search result you see.
- Add the fee to your travel budget: This is especially important if you're traveling as a family or visiting several destinations that charge per-person fees.
- Save your confirmation: Keep receipts, vouchers, and QR codes in TripIt so you can easily access them, even if you don't have cell service when you arrive.
Tourism fees probably won't be the biggest expense on your next trip. But knowing about them ahead of time can help you avoid an unexpected charge—or an extra travel-day headache.
Frequently asked questions about climate-focused tourism fees
What is a climate-focused tourism fee?
A climate-focused tourism fee is a charge paid by visitors that helps a destination fund environmental protection, conservation, climate resilience, or related projects.
You might also see terms such as green fee, conservation levy, or sustainable tourism fee. These terms aren't always interchangeable, and exactly how the money is used varies by destination.
Which destinations charge tourists environmental fees?
Hawaii, New Zealand, and Bali are among the destinations that currently collect fees or levies from visitors that help fund environmental or conservation initiatives.
They're far from the only places that charge tourists additional fees, though. Many destinations have hotel taxes, visitor levies, access fees, or other charges designed to fund local infrastructure or manage tourism.
Before you travel, check the official website for your destination to see which fees apply to your trip.
How much are tourism fees?
It depends on where you're going—and sometimes how long you're staying. Some destinations charge a flat fee per visitor, while others calculate the fee based on your accommodations or number of nights. There may also be different rates depending on when you pay, your age, where you're traveling from, or the type of trip you're taking.
When do I pay a tourism fee?
You could pay before your trip, when you apply for a visa or travel authorization, when you check into your hotel, or as part of your accommodations bill.
For example, New Zealand's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is generally collected when eligible travelers apply for an NZeTA or visa. Bali encourages travelers to pay its levy online before arriving. Hawaiʻi's Green Fee, meanwhile, is incorporated into its accommodations tax.
Are tourism fees the same as tourist taxes?
Not necessarily. Tourist tax is a broad term that can describe charges on visitors used to fund local services, infrastructure, tourism programs, or other government spending.
Climate-focused fees are more specifically connected to environmental protection, conservation, climate resilience, or sustainable tourism. However, the distinction isn't always clear-cut: Some destinations use the same visitor fee to fund several priorities.
How can I tell whether a tourism fee is legitimate?
Start with an official government or tourism website for the destination you're visiting. Be cautious about third-party sites that charge additional processing fees or make it look like you have to pay through their service. And if you're required to show proof that you've paid, save the official confirmation, receipt, or QR code in TripIt before your trip.
