Hon Mark Burton
Member of Parliament for Taupo
Minister of Tourism

www.labour.org.nz

9 July 2002
Labour working in partnership with the tourism sector

Labour will continue to work with the tourism sector to support innovation, create growth and jobs and ensure a sustainable tourism future.

In launching Labour’s tourism policy today, Tourism Minister Mark Burton said Labour was committed to actively pursuing, in partnership with tourism sector stakeholders, the vision outlined in the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010.

"We worked closely with the sector to develop the Strategy during this term of government. A dedicated function will be created within the new Ministry of Tourism to monitor the implementation of the Tourism Strategy and report regularly to government and industry on progress.

"The establishment of the Ministry has ensured that a whole-of-government approach is taken to tourism issues. For example, the Ministry will work with the Department of Conservation to monitor and manage visitor impacts on the protected environment.

"Providing a reliable, quality product is a key to New Zealand tourism's future. Labour will support and promote quality in the tourism industry, including further development of the Qualmark quality rating system.

"Labour will get alongside tourism businesses to ensure that the sector as a whole can work smarter. This will include the development of a sector-wide technology strategy; and further enhancement of tourism research and forecasting data through the Tourism Research Council, which we established in 2000.

"Labour will work with local government and the private sector to ensure tourism infrastructure needs are catered for.

"We want tourists to spend more, visit at different times of the year and visit different areas – so Labour will actively work to improve yield, seasonality and regional spread.

"Labour in government has recognised that the tourism sector is a key economic driver for New Zealand. We have also recognised the need to ensure that tourism growth is sustainable environmentally, culturally and socially, as well as economically.

"In the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 we have a workable vision for tourism development. Labour will continue to be an active partner in bringing this vision to reality," Mark Burton said.

The full policy document can viewed at www.labour.org.nz

© Scoop Media