Articles tagged with Tourism

Showing 15 of 93 articles

Government Invests $5M to Boost Regional Tourism and Attract Global Visitors to NZ

07 Sep 2026 | 2 days ago | 107 views

The New Zealand Government is investing $5 million to support six regional tourism initiatives aimed at attracting international visitors during the quieter months of spring 2026 and early summer 2027. These campaigns target tourists from Australia, North America, and China, promoting regional food, wine, hospitality, and outdoor experiences to encourage longer stays and travel beyond main gateways. The funding is allocated to specific projects led by regional organizations to boost local economies and spread tourism benefits across the country.

Tags: Louise Upston RotoruaNZ Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Visit Hurunui WellingtonNZ ChristchurchNZ Destination Great Lake Taupo MBIE New Zealand Tourism

NZ Tourism Minister Welcomes New Hospitality Report to Boost Sector Success

02 Sep 2026 | 6 days ago | 136 views

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston welcomes a new industry report outlining 48 practical recommendations to support New Zealand's hospitality sector, acknowledging progress made since the 2024 Hospitality Summit. The Government has collaborated closely with the sector through various initiatives and will develop a Hospitality Action Plan to coordinate priority efforts across multiple agencies and portfolios. This plan aims to remove growth barriers, support businesses and workers, and strengthen the sector’s contribution to the economy through ongoing partnership with industry stakeholders.

Tags: Louise Upston Hospitality New Zealand Restaurant Association of New Zealand Tourism Policy Statement Hospitality Summit Michelin Guide Hospitality Action Plan New Zealand Government Hospitality Regulatory Review Tourism and Hospitality

Trans-Tasman Trade and Tourism Ministers Meet to Boost NZ-Australia Partnership

02 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 149 views

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will host Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell in Auckland for the annual Closer Economic Relations Trade Ministers meeting and discussions with trans-Tasman businesses to strengthen economic ties. In 2025, two-way trade between New Zealand and Australia reached $35 billion, with Australia being New Zealand's largest export destination and international visitor market. The visit will also include talks on tourism growth, Māori tourism, and regional economic development to enhance collaboration between the two countries.

Tags: Todd McClay Don Farrell Louise Upston Trade Ministers Closer Economic Relations Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum tourism growth Māori tourism regional economic development

Trans-Tasman Trade and Tourism Ministers Meet to Strengthen NZ-Australia Partnership

02 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 201 views

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will host Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell in Auckland for the annual Closer Economic Relations Trade Ministers meeting and discussions with trans-Tasman businesses to strengthen the partnership. Their 2025 two-way trade reached $35 billion, with Australia as New Zealand’s largest export destination and visitor market, highlighting the importance of maintaining strong economic and tourism links. Minister Farrell will also meet with Tourism Minister Louise Upston and participate in a Bay of Islands program focused on Māori tourism and regional economic development.

Tags: Todd McClay Don Farrell Louise Upston Closer Economic Relations trade ministers Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum tourism growth Māori tourism regional economic development

Government Invests $400K to Repair Hauraki Rail Trail After Storm Damage

01 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 144 views

The Government is investing an additional $400,000, building on a prior $300,000, to repair the Hauraki Rail Trail after severe storm damage, ensuring it remains a key tourism asset supporting local jobs and economic growth. Funded by the International Visitor Levy and the New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund, with contributions from the Hauraki Rail Trail Charitable Trust, the repairs focus on damaged surfaces and structures, especially in the Karangahake Gorge. The trail attracts over 32,000 visitors annually, contributing about $12 million to the local economy, and its recovery is vital for sustaining regional tourism and associated businesses.

Tags: Louise Upston Hauraki Rail Trail Ohinemuri River Karangahake Gorge New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund International Visitor Levy Ngā Haerenga Tourism Minister New Zealand Government Great Rides

New Zealand Welcomes 200,000 Cruise Passengers Boosting Tourism and Jobs

28 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 184 views

Nearly 200,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to visit New Zealand this season, boosting regional tourism, jobs, and businesses, according to Tourism Minister Louise Upston. The government has collaborated closely with the cruise sector to enhance New Zealand's appeal as a must-dock destination, implementing practical measures and hosting industry forums to strengthen its global cruise position. These efforts, alongside infrastructure developments and policy support, aim to build a sustainable cruise industry and contribute to doubling the value of international tourism by 2034.

Tags: Louise Upston Crown Princess Tourism Policy Statement Auckland Seatrade Cruise Forum New Zealand Bledisloe North Wharf City of Sails Tourism and Hospitality Minister

Tourism 2050 Strategy Unveiled to Boost New Zealand’s Future Tourism Growth

27 Aug 2026 | 1 week ago | 224 views

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has welcomed Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Tourism 2050 strategy, highlighting its role in guiding the future of tourism amid upcoming challenges and opportunities. She emphasized the strategy’s alignment with the Government's Tourism Policy Statement, which aims for sustainable growth benefiting visitors, communities, and the economy. Upston expressed support for ongoing collaboration between the government, industry, and communities to ensure the tourism sector's long-term success through innovation and balanced development.

Tags: Louise Upston Tourism Industry Aotearoa Tourism 2050 Tourism Policy Statement New Zealand tourism strategy TIA tourism growth regional prosperity AI in tourism

$9.7M Funding Boost to Protect NZ National Parks from Wild Goats and Deer

24 Aug 2026 | 2 weeks ago | 251 views

A $9.7 million, four-year funding boost from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will support targeted wild goat and deer management to protect New Zealand’s national parks and native ecosystems. This investment enables ongoing control, monitoring, and eradication efforts across key conservation areas, including Whanganui, Waitōtara, Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes, Westland Tai Poutini, and Fiordland National Parks. The programme aims to reduce browsing pressure, prevent reinvasion, and enhance long-term biodiversity outcomes by strengthening operational capabilities and building partnerships.

Tags: Tama Potaka New Zealand wild goats deer management national parks conservation International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy DOC biodiversity ecosystem recovery

New Zealand Tourism Recovers Strongly with June Visitor Arrivals at 95% of 2019 Levels

14 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 259 views

New Zealand's tourism recovery is strong, with international visitor arrivals in June 2026 reaching 95% of June 2019 levels and totaling 201,900 arrivals, an 8.1% increase from June 2025. Key markets like Australia and China showed significant growth, contributing to an annual total of 3,674,600 overseas visitors, up 9% from the previous year. Despite a global decline in air travel, New Zealand remains a popular destination, supporting economic growth and progress toward doubling tourism export value by 2034.

Tags: New Zealand tourism Louise Upston international visitors Statistics New Zealand China Australia Tourism and Hospitality Minister International Air Transport Association visitor arrivals

Government Invests $500,000 to Expand Tiaki Program for Responsible Tourism in NZ

10 Aug 2026 | 4 weeks ago | 313 views

The Government is investing $500,000 to expand the Tiaki – Care for New Zealand programme, which educates visitors on responsible travel to protect the country's natural environment and culture. The funding, sourced from the International Conservation and Tourism Visitor Levy, will support activities like signage, website improvements, training, and collaboration with councils and tourism organizations. Led by Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand, the initiative aims to grow tourism sustainably while preserving New Zealand’s unique attractions and supporting the economy.

Tags: Louise Upston Tiaki New Zealand Tourism Industry Aotearoa Tourism New Zealand Regional Tourism New Zealand New Zealand Māori Tourism International Conservation and Tourism Visitor Levy Tourism and Hospitality Government investment

New Flexible Runway Safety Rules Boost Growth for New Zealand Regional Airports

06 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 327 views

The Government is reforming regional airport regulations by introducing more flexible, cost-effective runway safety options, including shorter runway end safety areas (RESA) for smaller airports and arresting systems as alternatives. These changes will reduce unnecessary compliance costs, streamline approval processes, and enable a wider variety of aircraft to operate safely, supporting regional aviation growth and tourism. This reform aligns with international standards, promotes economic development by unlocking isolated markets, and reflects the Government’s commitment to modernizing New Zealand’s civil aviation rules.

Tags: James Meager New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority regional airports runway safety RESA Associate Transport Minister aviation regulations tourism economic growth

NZ Labour Market Q2: Rising Unemployment Spurs Focus on Growth & Investment

04 Aug 2026 | 1 month ago | 305 views

Finance Minister Nicola Willis acknowledges the second quarter was challenging for New Zealand's labour market, with rising costs and uncertainty causing employers to pause hiring, resulting in a 5.6% unemployment rate. The government is focusing on policies to boost economic growth and business confidence, including support for tourism, international education, major construction projects, infrastructure investment, and the Investment Boost initiative. These measures aim to encourage employers to invest and expand, fostering long-term job creation rather than quick fixes.

Tags: New Zealand labour market unemployment Nicola Willis economy business confidence tourism international education construction projects Investment Boost

New Zealand Boosts Tourism with $800K AI Investment to Attract Visitors

28 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 334 views

The New Zealand Government is investing $800,000 to upgrade Tourism New Zealand’s systems, making local tourism services more accessible and visible through AI search tools. This initiative aims to improve the accuracy and personalization of holiday planning by making tourism data AI-ready and expanding the AI travel assistant with detailed regional information. The investment supports goals to boost tourism exports by 2034, increase international visitors to pre-pandemic levels by 2026, and grow tourism-related jobs and economic growth.

Tags: New Zealand Tourism Artificial Intelligence Louise Upston Tourism New Zealand International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy AI travel assistant Hospitality Government investment Regional tourism organizations

Government Invests $3.8M to Upgrade Public Toilets in NZ Visitor Hotspots

22 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 377 views

The Government is investing $3.8 million from the International Visitor Levy to upgrade public toilet facilities in the Mackenzie and Queenstown Lakes districts, two of New Zealand’s busiest visitor destinations. This funding aims to alleviate the financial burden on local communities by adopting a user-pays approach, ensuring visitors contribute to the maintenance of public amenities. The investment supports tourism's role in sustaining jobs and local businesses while providing cleaner, more reliable infrastructure for both residents and visitors.

Tags: Louise Upston New Zealand International Visitor Levy Mackenzie Queenstown Lakes Tourism Hospitality Government investment Public toilets Visitor destinations

Government Boosts India-New Zealand 100 Years of Unity Through Sport Program 2026

11 Jul 2026 | 2 months ago | 455 views

The New Zealand Government will invest from the Events Boost Fund to support the India-New Zealand 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme, celebrating a century of sporting ties between the two countries. The 2026 programme will feature major sporting events across New Zealand, including participation from the Indian Men’s Football team and Bowls teams, culminating in a month-long series of events in November. This initiative aims to strengthen cultural connections, boost tourism, and stimulate New Zealand’s economy through international sports and cultural celebrations.

Tags: Mark Mitchell Louise Upston India New Zealand Events Boost Fund Indian Men’s Football team NZ Cricket Tourism and Hospitality Minister Sport and Recreation Minister