Tourism Minister

Reconnecting New Zealand is not just the name of a govt strategy, it’s an absolute must-do for tourism in 2022, writes the minister.

MIQ should be scrapped for double-vaccinated arrivals now, says the National Party.

After a difficult last week for tourism, we asked the tourism minister to address industry concerns – here’s his reply.

The hospitality industry was in the stages of a nascent recovery in the months leading up to the current lockdown, according to Stuart Nash.

Key meetings attended by tourism minister Stuart Nash since taking up the portfolio in November 2020 include those with various taskforce bodies, local councils and industry representatives.

The tourism minister also wants to see an expansion of differential pricing across the sector for international visitors.

More recovery than regenerative, the plan introduces yet another initiative to reimagine tourism.

The tourism sector has welcomed the new strategy praising its targeted support for operators, regions and its transformation initiative.

Inbounders, RTOs, and the Queenstown and Milford areas are among those supported.

There is a lot to unpick in tourism minister Stuart Nash’s new plan for the sector and below is his full speech delivered to TRENZ Hui 2021 at the Christchurch Town Hall.

The regions hardest-hit by the slump in international tourism will get priority.

The minister ditches the Tourism Futures Taskforce weeks before it was due to complete its work “re-imagining” tourism.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash has taken three briefings specifically related to bed taxes, says the ACT Party.

The tourism minister defends his TPS speech and says he did announce new support for the sector.

Nash says he is “deeply concerned” about the situation unfolding in these five destinations.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash outlines his vision for tourism once international visitors returns which would include policy and sectoral changes.

Queenstown’s “economic earthquake” rally planned for tourism minister Stuart Nash’s visit to the resort today has been cancelled after he declined the invitation to attend.

Queenstown locals will hold a rally on Friday to express the “true crises” in the region and welcome tourism minister Stuart Nash to the struggling resort.

Scenic Hotel Group hibernates hotels and accuses the tourism minister of “throwing businesses under the bus”.

But the tourism minister says the Govt is looking at “innovative ways to allow businesses to hibernate”.

The Government believes it needs around 70% of the population immunised before borders will re-open to long haul travel and that could take six to nine months, according to tourism minister Stuart Nash.

The Government must provide targeted support for struggling Fiordland and Glacier Country operators, says the National Party.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash faced criticism in Parliament over his “very hard conversations” comments directed at tourism operators.

The tourism minister says “the full cost of tourism” should be priced into the visitor experience.

The tourism minister says those who rely on foreign tourists may need to have “very hard conversations” with creditors and employees.

The tourism minister says the Auditor-General is the right person to conduct the inquiry.

Long-haul travel this year looks unlikely, says tourism minister Stuart Nash.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash is told further help for the sector could “distort incentives”.

Tourism minister Stuart Nash says he is lobbying Government on behalf of the tourism sector but cannot provide dates about opening international borders.

Some of the country’s leading destination marketers give their views of the new minister and his messaging.

YHA says Nash’s focus on high value tourism would put New Zealand’s $1.5bn youth tourism industry under threat.

The new tourism minister Stuart Nash made a scatological splash this week following the Tourism Summit Aotearoa, writes the Ticker’s Bridget O’Connell.

In his first speech to industry, the new tourism minister outlines his vision for the hard-hit sector.

New tourism minister Stuart Nash will present the opening address at this year’s Tourism Summit Aotearoa.

Lawyer Andy Glenie says new tourism minister Stuart Nash should reconsider how best to support all tourism businesses.

His small business and regional and economic development portfolios will help him in tourism, say sector leaders.

The new tourism minister says he will spend the next few weeks listening to tourism operators.

Kelvin Davis says new tourism minister Stuart Nash will do a “fantastic” job in the role.

He takes over from Kelvin Davis, who had held the portfolio since October 2017.

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis has defended the Government’s support for AJ Hackett Bungy NZ under questioning in Parliament.

The minister justifies his STAPP decisions and says those who missed out must assess their “long-term viability”.

Bennett took over the role in late 2016 when prime minister John Key announced his departure from Government.

The tourism sector has received about $3bn of indirect and direct Government support, says tourism minister Kelvin Davis.

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis has retained the number 2 spot on the Labour Party’s 2020 election list.

Tourism minister Kelvin Davis says businesses will learn more tomorrow afternoon about the targeting of $400m allocated to the sector.

The formation of the New Zealand Futures Tourism Taskforce announced in Budget 2020 is a waste of time and money, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

“The wage subsidy scheme and the business support packages were just there to soften the blow…,” tourism minister Kelvin Davis told the Epidemic Response Committee yesterday.

The tourism minister says work is underway on a potential offering for the hard-hit tourism sector.

Parliament’s return on Monday saw National MP Todd McClay question tourism minister Kelvin Davis on the impact of alert level restrictions on the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The minister reflects on 2019 and looks ahead to the Govt’s key priorities for tourism in 2020.