Otago Daily Times

New fund for visitor events

- STAFF REPORTER

A CONTESTABL­E fund of $720,000 for events to draw domestic tourists to Dunedin will open on March 1.

Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment funding made public today would be open to new events or scaledup versions of existing Dunedin events.

‘‘We know that key events are a real drawcard for Kiwis, and the associated spend on hospitalit­y, accommodat­ion, retail, transport and activities spread the economic benefit far and wide,’’ Mr Christie said.

The funding covered two and ahalf years and would be administer­ed by Enterprise Dunedin, in its role as regional tourism organisati­on, a statement from Enterprise Dunedin said.

The fund was designed for events that would attract visitors and spending to the city, to offset the loss of internatio­nal tourism dollars.

New or existing events could qualify for between $25,000 and $100,000 for a single or multiyear event, which must take place between March 2021 and June 2023, Enterprise Dunedin said.

The funding could be applied for in addition to other Dunedin City Council event grants.

Enterprise Dunedin was working with Tourism Waitaki, Clutha Developmen­t and Great South to avoid date clashes, where possible, it said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand