Airports Welcome Tourism Marketing Turbocharge

The New Zealand Airports Association welcomes today’s announcement by the Government to inject $13.5 million into Tourism New Zealand for international marketing, describing it as a critical move to accelerate tourism recovery and unlock wider economic benefits.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced the funding boost at Weta Workshop Unleashed in Auckland today.

“This announcement shows the Government’s commitment to growing inbound tourism and helping New Zealand regain its competitive edge,” says NZ Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore.

“Tourism marketing delivers an exceptionally strong return on investment. Every dollar spent attracting international visitors returns many more in export earnings, GST revenue, and regional economic activity.

“With the right support, Tourism New Zealand’s work can accelerate inbound visitation and help close the revenue gap left by the pandemic - making this one of the most cost-effective ways to drive economic growth.

“We strongly support the government’s emphasis on stimulating international demand, which is essential to rebuilding New Zealand’s visitor economy.

“To fully realise the benefits of increased demand, we must also address structural constraints we are experiencing on the supply side of the aviation sector.

“To bring more visitors into our regional centres, we need to improve the health of the domestic aviation market, which is operating at only 86% of pre-pandemic capacity. Without enough seats, we risk bottlenecks that limit tourism’s economic potential and leave parts of the country underserved.

“Today’s announcement is a no-brainer for ‘going for growth’. Let’s also use it as a base for getting into the gnarlier issues holding us back.”

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