The Restaurant Association has welcomed the decision by the new government to incorporate hospitality into the expanded tourism portfolio.
"The recognition of hospitality in the tourism portfolio underscores a respect for the pivotal role that the hospitality industry contributes to the New Zealand economy and the tourism experience,” said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
“While Tourism and Hospitality are inherently linked, Hospitality is often lost by the Government in conversations about the Tourism industry. Including "Hospitality" in the title, we are confident, is a positive step towards generating a more targeted emphasis on our sector within the government."
Bidois added that this announcement had been a lengthy wait, with initial calls for a Minister of Hospitality dating back several years.
“This is something that we have advocated for, for a number of years. The hospitality industry contributes over $14 billion to the national economy, but Government policy has regularly missed the mark when considered against the realities of our sector. We have been missing specialised representation by those who understand our industry’s unique challenges and attributes, and we anticipate that this development will pave the way for a more cohesive representation for our sector.”
