Travelers who came to Australia will have to pay for pictures near natural objects. Find out more about when the tourist tax will come into effect and how much a photo at a natural monument will cost

From April 2023, the Australian government plans to introduce a tax for taking photos of some of the country's landmarks. The innovations will affect tourists who want to take photos of natural attractions in the Northern Territory: Edith Falls, Litchfield National Park and Mataranka Hot Springs.

What fee will the tourist have to pay?

To get the best shots, the tourist will need to purchase one of the subscriptions for the family: daily - $25, two-week - $75, unlimited - $150. Also, an additional fee will be charged to those tourists who go on a hike or plan to stay in campsites.

Local residents will be exempted from paying the fee.

In general, the leadership of the Northern region plans to introduce the fee in 50 of the 85 parks, nature reserves and protected areas that are subordinate to them.

Opinions of experts on new taxes

Experts believe that due to the new law, the number of photos of famous places of Australia in social networks may significantly decrease, which in turn may lead to a reduction in tourist flows to the region.

Currently, there are more than 12,000 posts with the hashtag #edithfalls on the Instagram social network. There are even more photos of Mataranka hot springs.

Where do they plan to send the collected funds?

The management of the parks plans to direct the collected funds to the protection, maintenance and security of the parks. The fees are used to develop and maintain national parks for future generations so that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the amazing landscapes and local wildlife.

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What are Edith Falls, Litchfield National Park and Mataranka Hot Springs known for?

• Edith Falls is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools on the Edith River in Nitmiluk National Park. The waterfalls are 8.7–12 meters high. Due to its picturesque landscapes, it is recognized as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The national park has a camping and picnic area. It is also allowed to swim in Edith waterfall.

• Litchfield National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful natural parks in the Northern Territory. Only in this park can you see the characteristic red earth, which is covered with small plants that grow along the rivers and waterfalls. During the rainy season, these small rivers flood vast spaces. The main natural attractions of the park are floodplain forests growing along the Adelaide River.

• Mataranka hot springs are a thermal spring that is represented by a small natural pool with a sandy bottom and very warm water. It is open around the clock, so you can swim and warm up there even late at night. The water in the thermal springs is pleasantly warm - +32-34C. They are trying to keep the pool in its original natural form, adding only steps for convenient descent into the water. The water in the springs is crystal clear and has a soft blue color.

Read more about the rules for entering Australia here.

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