Tourism industry looks to the future

Media Release

Tourism industry looks to the future

22 March 2007

Ensuring New Zealand’s tourism industry has a strong, sustainable future will be the theme of the Tourism Industry Conference 2007.

The conference, recognised as the most important annual forum for New Zealand’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry, will take place in Auckland on 28-30 August.

The conference will focus on the launch of the updated New Zealand Tourism Strategy (NZTS) which aims to set the industry’s direction through to 2020.

The NZTS 2010 was launched in 2001 and set out, for the first time, a vision for the future of the tourism industry in New Zealand – that New Zealand should aim to create a high quality, high-yielding and sustainable tourism industry.

The Strategy is now being updated midway through its term to take account of the new challenges facing the industry, such as a shortage of skilled workers, increasing fuel costs, greater use of technology and the impact on how visitors buy travel, and increasing expectations among visitors for quality and environmental sustainability.

The Tourism Industry Conference is managed by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) with support from Tourism New Zealand and the Ministry of Tourism.

TIA Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says the 2006 conference provided a forum to debate key strategic issues with tourism business operators and other interested parties.

“Consultation has continued since then and a redraft of the Strategy through to 2020 is now being developed. After further consultation, we look forward to launching the new Strategy at the conference which will be a fantastic opportunity to discuss its implementation with industry

operators,” Ms Luhrs says.

The winners of the prestigious Tourism Industry Awards 2007 will be announced at a celebratory function during the conference.

For more information on the NZTS 2010 update, go to www.nztourismstrategy.com

ENDS

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