Funding

The Productivity Commission has stepped back from its support of local bed taxes to help pay for infrastructure in tourism hotspots – a recommendation included in its draft report in July.

The tourism industry is claiming a win following the release of the Productivity Commission report into Local Government Funding and Financing, which sees it drop its support for local bed taxes.

The government has announced $12bn of new investment, $8bn for specific capital projects.

The cash will go towards 36 projects with the single biggest grant being almost $4m for Ruapehu District Council.

The council wants to ditch its $45m upgrade plan claiming a full redevelopment is required.

Tourism operators have contributed around $750,000 to ChristrchurchNZ’s new campaign to attract young domestic visitors to the city.

Tourism New Zealand has started talks with government boost its $111m annual budget.

The Government will inject $12m into the Waikato Regional Theatre project, courtesy of the Provincial Growth Fund.

Strong growth in domestic and international visitor spend in The Coromandel reached $496m, according to Destination Coromandel’s 2019 Annual Report.

Shotover Jet, Black Cat Cruises, and Explore Group are among the recipients of the govt cash.

Milford Sound Tourism could collect $30 a day from each visiting car following the introduction of a $10 per hour charge at its main carpark.

The NZTA has approved $14m in funding for walking and cycling improvements at the Wakatipu Basin.

Rafting NZ will use the money to train up to 20 new river guides for its Tongariro River business.

Around $3.7m has so far been taken for the IVL through the new travel authority, says Immigration NZ.

The O’Donnell family’s HW Richardson Group and Distinction Hotel Group founder Geoff Thompson have both pledged up to $25m each for the multi-million dollar overhaul of Invercargill’s CBD.

A $12m Provincial Growth Fund injection for the Sarjeant Gallery is set to “put Whanganui on the map as a vibrant cultural hub” according to Fletcher Tabuteau.

Nelson mayor Rachel Reese says the council will spend its $256k funding on its camping education programme, a temporary toilet and washroom hub, increased facilities for campers’ waste management, and a user survey.

Technology pilots providing improved information to freedom campers, as well education, enforcement and temporary camping facilities are all measures that will be funded this summer as efforts to support responsible camping continue.

The IVL cash will go towards tracks and infrastructure around Fox Glacier as well as alternative experiences.

The West Coast tourism industry has described the government’s injection of $3.9m into the region as “a fantastic opportunity for Fox Glacier”.

Tourism-related projects secure almost $600k from the Government’s Low Emission’s Vehicles Contestable Fund.

The cash will go towards the first phase of Paeroa’s Historical Maritime Park Marine development.

Initiatives at Milford, Arthur’s Pass, Westland and Tongariro are among the schemes to get funding from the new levy.

The cash will go towards the attraction’s $55m redevelopment plan.

Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari and Dolphin Planet have provided the money.

Round four of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund will open for applications this Thursday 1 August 2019.

Trading has resumed this morning in Tourism Holdings’ ordinary shares following a halt yesterday for a shortfall bookbuild.

Invercargill Airport will get $500,000 for upgrades.

The cash includes $1.1m for restoring the Mauri of Matapouri Beach as well as $539,000 for a new carpark and toilets at Whangārei’s Abbey Caves.

A total of $12m of government funding has been divvied up between 25 councils in the latest round of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

Bay of Islands Tours is the latest recipient of Top Energy’s $30,000 Business Development Fund.

Councils should be able to use accommodation levies to help fund infrastructure, says a new report.

Hamilton City Council has allocated $8.5m for capital works in FY19 on its three main attractions – Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo and the museum – according to its latest annual plan.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa is calling for local government to receive a 20% share of the $1.7bn in GST paid by international visitors, claiming it is the “most effective, efficient and fairest approach” to regional funding.

TIA’s chief executive “puts the public record straight” on the association’s position on funding for tourism. 

Charlie Ives, executive officer of Regional Tourism New Zealand, says calls for GST earned by tourism to be returned to the sector are muddying the waters when it comes to funding.

Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd is “relieved and pleased” after winning support from members for a proposed funding boost that will add $900,000 to the organisation’s coffers.

Destination Queentown has won the support of its members to seek a 25% funding increase.

Operators also facing a possible bed tax could stymie the RTO’s plan to boost its funding in tomorrow’s vote.

RTOs could be in for a windfall from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa will be exploring options to establish a sustainable funding model for itself and for various industry projects in the year ahead.

Wellington International Airport has raised $100m through the offer of an 11-year, unsecured, fixed-rate bond.

The government’s Provincial Growth Fund is ploughing a further $2.8m into Northland with tourism centred around the town of Kaikohe one of the main beneficiaries of the fresh investment.

Wellington International Airport is going ahead with its proposed  11-year, unsecured, fixed-rate bond offer of up to $100m.

An eight-strong group of tourism industry leaders is this week locked in a room in Wellington in an attempt to come up with a solution to the tourism industry’s regional funding riddle.

The third round of the government’s $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund will open for applications on 1 March.

The outgoing CEO of Northland Inc urges the government to “fix the blockage” in NZ’s tourism system.

Applications are now open for round 10 of the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund.

The Govt has pumped cash into extending the EV charging network at some of NZ’s most popular tourist destinations.

The challenges around managing tourism growth are writ large in the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into local government funding and financing.