English says no extra funding for tourism

Despite accusing the Government of neglecting tourism funding, National will not commit to extra funding if elected, citing other priorities.

National Party deputy leader Bill English said at the Tourism Industry Conference New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday there needed to be a deeper co-operation between government and the tourism industry.

"There should be more depth to our interaction over the next few years than just the size of the promotions budget," he said.

"Tourism is our largest single industry and gets very little money and little attention." But after commiserating with the industry for missing out on "the tsunami of cash going through government hands" he told The Southland Times, National would not commit to extra funding if elected.

"We have other priorities, such as tax cuts." Mr English said National would look at reviewing under-performing tourism and hospitality courses and encourage better quality private courses.

Regional Tourism Organisations New Zealand chair Paul Davis also attacked government at the conference for neglecting the domestic tourism market in favour of a more glamorous international approach.

"The domestic market is the Cinderella (of tourism) ... hardworking and unappreciated," he said.

There were more domestic than international tourists in New Zealand in 2007, yet the domestic market received no government funding, he said.

Earlier in the day, tourism minister Damien O'Connor said a top priority for tourism moving through tough economic times was building an image of environmental sustainability.

"It's incredibly important that what they (tourists) see supports that 100 percent pure promise."

- © Fairfax NZ News