Policy Area: Tourism

Statement of General Direction:

To maximise foreign exchange and employment benefits to New Zealand from the development of quality, sustainable tourism.

Key Initiatives of Policy:

To ensure that the New Zealand Tourism Board is appropriately resourced to meet its year 2000 targets for new job opportunities and foreign exchange earnings from tourism, having regard to the massive potential of the industry to deliver business and job opportunities for Maori and in the regions.

To ensure an appropriate weighting of skills and interests on the New Zealand Tourism Board reflecting New Zealand's unique cultural and conservation dimensions, in addition to commercial and industry representation.

To maximise the extent to which the benefits of tourism growth flow to New Zealanders and to ensure that all regions are given the opportunity to participate.

To enhance the Kiwihost programme as a key contributor to tourism growth and ensure that it reflects the special identity of New Zealand tourism.

To ensure that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority expedite the inclusion on the framework of the tourism units and that our education system gives appropriate weight to the recognition of skills related to the tourism sector.

To encourage the development of the infrastructure required to resource the tourism sector, especially by local authorities, in a way which imposes reasonable cost on users.

To ensure that the long term sustainable future of tourism is protected by placing appropriate weight on cultural, conservation and env ironmental concerns.

Fiscal Implications of this Policy Agreement:

(All funding proposals subject to being considered within the agreed spending policy parameters.)

Legislative Implications of this Policy Agreement: