Prime Minister Sees Tourism at Its Best at Trenz

Media Release
16 June 2005

Prime Minister Sees Tourism at Its Best at Trenz

Boutique lodges, personalised tours, eco-tourism and other outdoor visitor experiences, spas, cultural attractions, wineries … will all be showcased for the TRENZ VIP programme today. Event organisers and hosts, Tourism Industry Association (TIA), are welcoming more than 50 special guests including the Rt Honorable Helen Clark to the TRENZ exhibition.

TIA Chief Executive, Fiona Luhrs, says “Tourism is not particularly visible or well understood as an industry. TRENZ is the one event each year where the cream of tourism businesses are gathered in spectacular fashion under one roof. The VIP programme is an opportunity to demonstrate tourism’s scale and diversity, as well as its economic contribution of course, to people who can influence the industry’s future either nationally or locally.

“We especially welcome the Prime Minister and I look forward to personally escorting her around the exhibition floor as she discovers the appeal of each region and the high calibre of visitor activities each offers.

“The real objective of the programme is to raise awareness amongst allied businesses, local government and industry leaders, of the economic value of New Zealand tourism to the regions. Tourism is responsible for one in ten jobs and provides $16.5 billion to the economy, at last count,” says Luhrs.

“Every region benefits from tourism, especially those that wholeheartedly embrace it. Local government has a key role in developing the provision and promotion of tourism. For example, tourism can be a powerful catalyst for development of public amenities which not only improves the quality of a visitor’s experience but that of local residents. Hence, a strong partnership between local government and the tourism industry is essential to flourishing tourism in the regions,” says Luhrs.

The aim is for the VIP group of 55 to leave TRENZ with a deeper understanding of the tourism industry, its size and the value it adds to New Zealand and the economy.

Guests include; Mayors, District Councillors and representatives from economic development agencies, Business NZ, Ministry for Environment, Ministry of Transport, Transit NZ, Tertiary Education Commission, Pacific Asia Travel Association, academic and training institutions from around the country, New Zealand Police, Statistics NZ and potential investors.

Hosts of the VIP programme include TIA Board representatives and Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs, Ray Salter – General Manager, Ministry of Tourism.

ENDS

Key statistics about TRENZ 2005:
Over 1700 business people are expected to attend the event at the Westpac Event Centre (TRENZ is not open to the public)
In 2005 over 33,000 fifteen minute appointments are pre-scheduled before TRENZ
Over 50 guests from local government and allied industries, and senior business professionals are expected to attend the TRENZ VIP programme in 2005.
Key statistics about tourism:
Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
New Zealand tourism arrivals have doubled in size since 1994
Forecast annual growth is 6% on average for at least the next five years
Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $7.4 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2003. That is 17.8 % of exports
Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.
Tourism represents 9.6% of gross domestic product and generates nearly $500 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

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