This follows on from the fascinating instructive Report yesterday that addressed the issues of NZ’s most important industry – Tourism. 

As this is NZ’s biggest $$$ earner any suggestions to improve the industry direction have to be treated with respect.  To this end TRM have been dedicated to provide MBIE (Ministry of Everything) with the clear solution in our part of Paradise.  Below is their essential aim and schedule of requirements which raise so many questions – to confirm their dilemma. 

Usually, when any Government Department is faced with a dilemma their standard solution is to appoint their own carefully selected consultant to procrastinate and provide the delay mechanism to prepare a long winded comprehensive report to bury the issue forever.  It is in their manual.

With this tourism dilemma, outlined below,  TRM offer to save them thousands of dollars and months of time and other huge unreported expenses by preparing a brief video.  Then they can understand the basics of what drives tourism – with irrefutable photographic evidence –  in just a couple of minutes.  Much better than any Consultants report.   I wonder if we should send them our account?.

Just compare what else is happening in this region to encourage ‘sustainable’ tourism.  A good example is at Whakapapa where about $100 Million is being invested by Government, and Toe-paw Council as well, to boost tourism for a few winter months.  Their investment is squarely aiming at the east coast of West Island – to fly them into Toe-paw and bus them to the skifields.  Their massive investment in gondolas – to replace chair lifts – and snow making machines – to guarantee snow regardless of global warming, indicates how much they will invest in the future of tourism.  Compare those $$$ to all they have to do to attract many more overseas anglers is to scrap Taupo Region fishing licence fees.  So simple…

Or compare the $ zillions invested in other high performance sports – like cycling and rowing?  As the Tongariro River provides world class wild trout fishing attracting anglers from all over the world for the last 100 years,  it is time it was recognised and rewarded by removing fishing licence fees.

It might also mitigate or go a little way to compensate for all the hydro dams and tunnels and canals that have reduced the trout fishing opportunities in this region for the last fifty years.  What a nice way to redress all the wrongs of the past Governments.  Seems reasonable…

• The (MBIE) aim

  The government’s overarching aim is to enrich New Zealand through sustainable tourism growth.

  The focus on sustainability recognises the importance of the future tourism system being environmentally and socially sustainable, as well as economically sustainable. It also recognises the potential impacts of climate change on the sector and supports the government’s focus for a just transition to a ‘clean, green, and carbon neutral New Zealand.’

  The outcomes

  The strategy sets out the government’s approach to five long-term tourism outcomes. It asks what long-term success would look like in each of these areas, where we are now, what is already happening and what priority areas the government should focus on.

These five outcomes show how tourism can help deliver productive, sustainable, inclusive growth.

› New Zealand benefits from more productive tourism growth

› exceptional visitor experiences ensure the sector’s future success

› tourism protects, enhances and promotes New Zealand’s natural, cultural and historic heritage

› regions and communities benefit

› New Zealanders’ lives are improved by tourism.

New Zealand benefits from more productive tourism growth

This focuses on the type of economic growth that we want tourism to deliver, with a focus on lifting the productivity of the sector.

Exceptional visitor experiences ensure the sector’s future success

The second outcome focuses on how we can make sure the tourism sector is economically sustainable by developing and promoting high-quality, authentic visitor experiences.

Tourism protects & enhances New Zealand’s natural, cultural and historic heritage & promotes New Zealand culture.

This goal signals the importance of both maintaining and restoring the quality of the unique natural, cultural and historic heritage that visitors come here to experience.

New Zealanders’ lives are improved by tourism

The fourth outcome focuses on ensuring New Zealanders continue to support tourism by enhancing experiences of their own country, as well as shared respect and hospitality.

Regions and communities benefit

This outcome focuses on ensuring the benefits of tourism are distributed across regions and communities, contributing to inclusive growth. This includes ensuring whānau, iwi and hapū benefit from tourism.

Below – another brief video of what Turangi has to offer tourists…