March 02, 2020
Holiday at home way to skip Covid 19
Click here for the full interview.
Don't panic – and consider taking a holiday in Aotearoa.
That's the advice from Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis as the sector starts to brace itself for the effects of the Covid 19 Coronavirus.
He says while tourism businesses which target the Chinese market will already be feeling an effect, others are more diversified.
With more than 260,000 people employed in tourism, the Government is looking at a system-wide response, with $11 million put into targeting other overseas markets and $1 million on a campaign for New Zealanders to holiday at home.
"It's almost our patriotic duty to take a week off work and go and stay somewhere around the country. Go and visit those Māori tourism places and enjoy what they have to offer. New Zealand is open for business. The last thing people need to be doing is hiding away in their homes scared they are going to catch something," Mr Davis says.
Kelvin Davis says there is no need for panic buying, as was seen in some Auckland supermarkets overt the weekend, but people need to get used to taking precautions like washing hands and keeping surfaces clean.
Copyright © 2020, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com