The Restaurant Association, HCA, and Bus and Coach say their sectors need an estimated 33k workers to meet demand this summer.
Labour’s inaction has left the tourism and hospitality sectors facing a critical shortage of workers and risks leaving struggling business poorer, McClay says.
Almost 20k of the visas were approved before the borders shut and allowing them in could help alleviate worker shortages.
The first significant impact on the labour problem within the tourist industry could be provided by the return of working holiday makers from 13 March.
Go with Tourism will host a Workshop Wānanga in Auckland on 17 – 18 November to address workforce challenges and skill shortages within tourism and hospitality.
Visas commonly used for workers such as chefs or snow sport instructors will be rolled into a new catch-all visa type that requires all employers to be registered with Immigration New Zealand.
Concerns over the additional financial burden a doubling of sick leave will pile on fragile tourism and hospitality businesses have led to a raft of submissions against the government’s proposed increase.
“This will be crucial for towns such as Rotorua and Kaikoura, where the effects of Covid-19 will be particularly difficult due to loss of income from international tourism.”
Conventions & Incentives New Zealand has downsized its team following a business review triggered by the financial hit wrought by the Covid-19 crisis.
Tourism Talent New Zealand has launched Gig Connect, a new service designed to assist the tourism and hospitality industries to rebuild from the impact of Covid-19.
New Zealand’s inbound tour operators are “holding faith” that the tourism sector will receive further support from government as new research shows how deeply the industry has been hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Go with Tourism is ramping up its capability to support the industry’s employees in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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