The Government's additional investment into international tourism marketing, which will boost the number of visitors to New Zealand.
The Restaurant Association of New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement of an additional NZD 13.5 million investment into international tourism marketing, aimed at attracting 72,000 more international visitors to New Zealand.
"This is a much-needed boost for our visitor economy," said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
"Every international visitor represents a potential diner, and increased footfall in our towns and cities flows directly through to hospitality businesses across the country."
The investment, which will be delivered through Tourism New Zealand and targeted at key markets including Australia, the United States, and China, is part of the Government’s Tourism Growth Roadmap, which aims to double the value of tourism exports by 2034.
“Our members have consistently told us that visitor numbers are critical to their recovery and long-term growth,” continued Bidois.
“This funding recognises the important role tourism plays not just in our hotels and attractions, but in our restaurants, cafés, bars and eateries – the places where visitors experience the heart of our culture and hospitality.”
The Association also welcomed confirmation that the funding will come from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), noting that reinvestment of this nature into frontline visitor industries is essential for creating a sustainable tourism ecosystem.
“As we head into the next decade, it’s crucial that government and industry continue to work hand-in-hand to build a tourism sector that delivers value across all regions of New Zealand,” added Bidois.
“With the right support, our hospitality businesses are ready to roll out the welcome mat.”
This investment came after the Restaurant Association released findings on the economic state of the industry in the first half of this year.
Despite the subdued national picture, several regions posted standout results. Nelson led with a 16.5 percent year-on-year increase in revenue, followed by Queenstown-Lakes at 13.4 percent both buoyed by domestic tourism and destination appeal. In contrast, Auckland saw marginal growth of just 0.4 percent and other regions such as Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay reported declines.
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