National Party leader Todd Muller last week announced this, “National will launch a $100 million grant programme called Tourism Accelerator to help fund projects that will get New Zealand’s tourism sector back on its feet. Our tourism sector has been hit hard by Covid-19. Once the border re-opens we need to be ready to invite visitors back. Tourism operators need confidence to keep their doors open and keep people in jobs.”

That’s why, Muller noted, the proposal would see $100 million invested over a four-year period. “Project funding would be split 70/30 between Government money and private sector investment. National’s Tourism Accelerator will provide direct cash support to businesses and tourist operators that are currently tossing up whether to re-open or shut up shop for good,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition has also called on the Government “to put forward a timeline for the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble immediately to allow businesses to plan for the future”.

“While there may have been discussions on both sides of the Tasman, there is no visibility on the Government’s timelines or proposed working arrangement which might see reciprocal travel between our two countries start any time soon. This is bad news for New Zealand’s tourism operators and our hospitality sector,” he said.

– TIN Bureau