New Zealand govt to fund tourism project

A national tourism plan in New Zealand is about to get a cash injection from the government, it has been announced.

Tourism minister Damien O'Connor revealed the news at a tourism industry conference in Christchurch recently.

In addition to the existing Tourism Strategy Implementation Fund of A$1.6 million (£750,000) that the strategy receives every year, Mr O'Connor said the government were going to commit an extra A$2.83 million.

The seven-year plan includes four areas of priority; the environment, tourism research, offshore marketing and workforce issues, he said.

Mr O'Connor added: "Tourism's future depends upon sustainability and delivering greater value from each and every visitor to this country. The industry is one of the most significant contributors to the New Zealand economy."

The minister recently claimed that New Zealand is easily placed to withstand a drop in tourism figures over the next three years.

A global economic slowdown is predicted to reduce visitors to the country by 4.7 per cent by 2010, reported Bloomberg.

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