Fiordland expects Government will help with recovery

This compares to a 59.8% drop in visitor spending in Queenstown and the New Zealand’s national average of 45%.

A survey, completed by 179 businesses that employed a total of 1401 workers, also showed a third of all employees in Fiordland had been or were expected to be laid off, including 60 employees on work visas.

‘‘It should be noted that the bulk of redundancies are expected to occur in the next four to eight weeks and unemployment is expected to rise,’’ the report said.

Great South chief executive Graham Budd said ‘‘without question’’ Fiordland has had the ‘‘hardest hit’’ in the Southland area, but he believed the Government would soon announce funding to the region.

‘‘The Government announced only few areas and few businesses they were offering support to. We know they have more to come. I don’t think we are being missed out,’’ he said.

Mr Budd believed the community should be pleased Queenstown received a good contribution to support its economy.

‘‘Let hope ours is coming soon.’’

Minister of Tourism Kelvin Davis yesterday told the

Fiordland and surrounds would benefit from Government funding and activities through several programmes.

This included the Milford Opportunities Project, which was ‘‘well under way’’.

‘‘The primary focus of this project is to futureproof

Milford Sound/Piopiotahi to protect the area’s important conservation values and connect visitors to New Zealand’s natural, cultural and historic heritage. Part of the Milford Opportunities Project is to develop and promote Te Anau as a gateway to Fiordland.’’

He said $3 million of funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy would go towards stage two of the the project, to develop a master plan.

Mr Davis said applications had been received from Fiordland operators for support from the Government’s Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme, which has up to $20.2 million available to the 31 regional tourism organisations (RTOs) across New Zealand.

‘‘Destination Fiordland will have access to up to $400,000 as part of this funding to RTOs.’’