Concept:The correct sentence should introduce the topic of New Zealand's rising tourist numbers.
Explanation:The text following the blank discusses future tourism figures and how tourism has become a major export.
A logical opening sentence must give a past figure about international visitors arriving in New Zealand.
Option A states that in 2016 New Zealand hosted
3.5 million tourists from overseas.
This fits perfectly because the next line says that by 2023 more than
4.5 million tourists are expected each year.
The other options talk about taxes, toll booths, or national parks, which are not connected to the rest of the paragraph.
Thus, Option A is the most suitable grammatically and contextually.
Answer:In 2016 New Zealand hosted
3.5 million tourists from overseas.