Tourism industry wants sustainable future

Media Release

Tourism industry wants sustainable future

20 September 2007

The tourism industry looks forward to working with the Government to develop its climate change initiatives, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

“The tourism industry is already committed to becoming more environmentally sustainable. I was pleased that Prime Minister Helen Clark and Climate Change Minister David Parker both recognised the industry’s progress in today’s announcements,” Ms Luhrs says.

“Given New Zealand’s distance from key markets, we must be able to deliver on our ‘100% Pure’ international marketing promise. By doing so, we have the potential to gain competitive advantage internationally.”

New Zealand’s natural environment is the primary motivation for travel by our international visitors, plays a major part in domestic leisure travel, and forms the basis for thousands of tourism businesses. The tourism sector must protect and enhance the environment on which it depends, to ensure it is sustainable in the long-term.

Numerous tourism operators are already striving to minimise the effects of their businesses on the environment in which they operate. Many have recycling programmes, have introduced energy-efficient equipment and practices, and upgraded their fleets.

Environmental sustainability is a key principle of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 www.nztourismstrategy.com due to be released in early November. The NZTS 2015 sets out a goal for the tourism sector to take a leading role in protecting and enhancing the environment.

“TIA will be seeking further clarification from the Government on the implications of today’s announcements for the thousands of tourism businesses in New Zealand. However, we now have some definite dates tourism businesses can work towards – the transport sector in particular –

to reduce their emissions and deal with the impacts of an emissions trading scheme. TIA and its members are keen to work with government on measures that can practically be implemented.”

ENDS

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