Tourism lifeline
Tourism minister Stuart Nash has announced $15 million to move the Milford Opportunities Project to its next phase, as part of a 12-point Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan.
The all-of-government $200m plan would ‘‘support the recovery of tourism communities after the impacts of Covid-19, and rebuild tourism on a more sustainable foundation for the future,’’ he said.
Half of the package is aimed at five regions hardest-hit by the lack of international tourists, namely Fiordland, South Westland, Queenstown Lakes, Mackenzie District and Kaiko¯ ura.
These communities will receive psychological and social wellbeing support and training, grants for expert advice, grants to implement that advice, and a kick-start package to help moth-balled business ramp back up when international visitors return.
Nash said the funding for the Milford Opportunities Project would create a more sustainable and high-quality visitor experience in Milford Sound-Piopiotahi where annual visitor numbers of up to 870,000 a year were putting significant pressure on the environment.
Milford Opportunities Project chairman Dr Keith Turner said the project was ‘‘very close’’ to delivering a master plan on how visitors should be managed to government, before the plan is made public – hopefully in June.
The earmarked funding showed government’s anticipation that there would be a next stage, and that they saw value in better managing the impact of tourism on Milford, Turner said. He would not provide much detail about the plan, but said it was ‘‘far-reaching and wide-ranging,’’ and would look at areas surrounding the transport corridor.
Turner said any plans would be
subject to government approval, and the funding would be dependent on that.
Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong also served on the Milford Opportunities Project board. The project would benefit Southland and Otago too, as it would highlight the corridors in and out of Milford Sound.
Other components to Nash’ package included grant funding for regional events, investments in Ma¯ ori tourism businesses, a sixmonth extension on concession waivers from the Department of Conservation, council infrastructure funding, the establishment of a Tourism Industry Transformation
Plan, and existing tourism recovery loans converted to grants.
In his role as mayor, Tong was ‘‘quietly excited’’ about the minister’s announcement.
‘‘He’s obviously listened to the issues that were raised in Southland and Fiordland,’’ he said.
Fiordland Community Board chair and Te Anau business owner Sarah Greaney was pleased to see a focus on particular areas that were struggling.
It was good to see the minister acknowledge that businesses needed funds to implement business change plans, she said, but the $5000 being offered would not be enough for some.
She also raised concerns about tourism businesses’ ability to plan anything when they were living in an ‘‘ongoing environment of uncertainty’’.
‘‘There’s still a significant gap when looking at support for small businesses,’’ Greaney said. ‘‘It’s not going to help a business survive the winter.’’
Fiordland Jet co-owner Chris Adams was at the Trenz tourism conference where Nash made his announcement and called it ‘‘a waste of time’’. ‘‘This money isn’t going to business. It’s going to lawyers and accountants. Once again the small operators get nothing,’’ Adams said.