Funding

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.

Taupō’s Great Lake Trail has been granted $245,000 for a 15km extension to help improve safety and promote the region as a cycling destination.

The industry has called on the government to spend revenue raised from the new international visitor tax wisely, and ensure the circa $80m a year remains an additional – not replacement – funding source.

Auckland International Airport has added $150m of firepower for infrastructure investment to its books following this week’s bond issue.

Auckland International Airport has today hit the market with up to $175m six-year fixed rate bonds as its $2bn infrastructure investment programme continues apace.

Auckland International Airport is eyeing the retail bond market to raise funds as it ploughs on with its $2bn investment programme.

Southland is the big winner securing almost $6m from the second round of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

Davis will not consider returning a portion of GST revenue earned from international visitors back to the tourism industry, says Regional Tourism New Zealand.

Another $60K has been granted towards Otago’s economic development strategy.

An inquiry into local govt funding will also look at how the impact of booming tourism can be managed.

Rotorua Lake Council has been granted $811,625 from the PGF for two ‘Big Moves’ projects.

The gulf between the benefits of tourism to government and the deficit that sits with local councils has been highlighted in a new report.

It took two years of planning, lobbying and engagement but Tourism Bay of Plenty got its destination management funding plan over the line.