NZHC supports call for Tourism Industry Taskforce

10 September 2008

New Zealand Hotel Council supports call for Tourism Industry Taskforce

The New Zealand Hotel Council (NZHC) is today supporting the call for a new Tourism Industry Taskforce to be established at a senior level within government to ensure current activities are better coordinated and key tourism priorities are actioned.

The NZHC supports the Tourism Industry Election Manifesto due to be launched in Wellington today. The manifesto outlines six top priorities for the tourism industry over the next three years.

New Zealand Hotel Council Chair Jennie Langley says the creation of a Tourism Industry Taskforce would be a powerful first step to improve New Zealand’s international profile and competitiveness in an increasingly challenged global market.

“The $20.1 billion tourism industry is not only a major contributor to New Zealand’s economy, it also showcases our country and culture to prospective investors and skilled employees,” Ms Langley says.

“Productivity and added-value has always been linked to the high tech, agricultural and manufacturing industries, but it is also about ensuring that New Zealand has the people and service industries with the necessary training and work skills they need to position New Zealand on the world stage.   

“At the very least, involving top decision makers from a range of portfolios and ministries in the development and growth of tourism would ensure opportunities onshore and offshore are not lost. Even better, it would establish a model for tourism to help kick-start New Zealand’s economic transformation,” she added.

“The NZHC congratulates the Tourism Industry Association for its leadership and foresight in developing the Tourism Industry Election Manifesto. By engaging a wide range of tourism industry and other stakeholders in the development of this important document, TIA has established a clear path forward that will take New Zealand into and beyond the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

 “NZHC calls upon the incoming Government to create a new Tourism Industry Taskforce to ensure even better outcomes are achieved for New Zealand from the tourism industry, one of New Zealand’s single largest exporters.” 

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