May 18, 2020
No magic wand in tourism planning
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Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis says he can’t magic the opening of the borders, and businesses need to make decisions based on a realistic understanding of the likely situation post-COVID-19.
Mr Davis has come under fire from some in the industry who say the Budget failed to deliver the support they need.
He says the extension of the wage subsidy scheme for a further eight weeks should meet some of the sector’s concerns, but short and medium-term survival means pivoting to the domestic market.
"There’s a number of businesses going 'that's not good enough, all of our visitors come from overseas, and our businesses are targeted to international tourism.' I say to them, if you wanted the Budget to open the borders, this package won't do that. They really need to take advantage of the measures that we have put in place," he says.
Kelvin Davis says there’s money to give people advice on pivoting their business or putting it into hibernation, and there will also be support for strategic businesses like Whale Watch Kaikoura which are critical to the economies of their regions.
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