The good news in the tourism industry just keeps rolling in!

All the signs point to positive growth for New Zealand’s tourism sector.

International visitor numbers grew in October 2004 by nine per cent to 181, 400 people. This is on top of an already impressive growth figure of 8.6 per cent in September 2004. Even better news is that these record visitor numbers are coupled with record spending figures!

In 2003, international tourism’s contribution was $7.4 billion - close to 18 per cent of our total exports. Combined with our strong domestic market, total tourism spending represents approximately $16.5 billion, or nearly 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

By any measure, tourism is a premier industry for New Zealand, delivering very real economic benefits across the country.

The staggering performance of the tourism industry is creating issues of the best kind.

There are so many opportunities for young Maori, especially in places like Northland and the East Coast, where tourism is really starting to take off. This is the perfect time to enter the industry with a career in sight!

The Government and industry associations are working hard to ensure we have human resource supply and capability to support the sector’s long-term future. This premier industry is about much more than summer jobs for young New Zealanders. Building a truly sustainable, quality tourism industry for New Zealand means developing long-term, sustainable, quality jobs - a key challenge for all of us in the sector.

Operators are the bread and butter of the sector, and they also need to play their part in ensuring that tourism is seen as viable career option.

At home, we are putting in place industry-based skills training programmes to upskill our staff, to ensure that operators have the capability to consistently deliver the high standards of quality service our visitors now expect from us.
But we also have to support our operators as we develop our international markets, finding more unique ways of showcasing ourselves.

Maori cultural tourism products are becoming an even stronger point of difference. Our reputation for authentic, high-quality cultural tourism experiences is growing in leaps and bounds - a real selling point with the sophisticated, high-spending Interactive Travellers we seek.

But, with another record year drawing to a close, I think it’s only appropriate to celebrate the fact that New Zealand really has become one of the hottest destinations on the planet.

I want to thank each and every one of you for the hard work and dedication you have put into the sector these past few years. I am proud to say that the huge contributions you all have made are testament to the current success of our sector.

Lastly, I wish everyone, a happy, safe and prosperous Christmas and New Year. You all deserve it.

Kia Ora
Hon Dover Samuels