The Restaurant Association welcomed the announcement of a second round of funding for the Regional Events Promotion Fund.
With a year-long outlook and a focus on supporting regional events, this has been a positive step towards encouraging domestic tourism and bolstering the hospitality sector across New Zealand.
“Events play a vital role in attracting people to our regions, filling up our cafés, restaurants, and bars, and bringing life to town centres,” said Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois.
“This fund gives regions an opportunity to shine and share their unique stories – and we believe food should be at the heart of that.”
Bidois added that with so many talented chefs, producers, and hospitality professionals around the country, there is a real opportunity to promote the local food culture as a key part of New Zealand's tourism offering.
"We’d love to see regions invest in food events that celebrate local produce, traditions and culture.”
The Restaurant Association looked forward to working with regional tourism organisations to champion hospitality as a core part of the event landscape, ensuring the sector is supported and promoted through tourism initiatives.
“Hospitality businesses are integral to the success of any event, and collaboration with our industry will ensure that these initiatives not only bring people in, but also leave them with a great taste of what our regions have to offer."
