The Restaurant Association has welcomed the decision by the new government to incorporate hospitality into the expanded tourism portfolio.
The recognition of hospitality in the tourism portfolio underscores a respect for the pivotal role that our industry contributes to the NZ economy and the tourism experience,” said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
“While Tourism and Hospitality are inherently linked, Hospitality is often lost by the Government in conversations about the Tourism industry. Including “Hospitality” in the title, we are confident, is a positive step towards generating a more targeted emphasis on our sector within the government.
“This is something that we have advocated for, for a number of years. The hospitality industry contributes over $14bn to the national economy but Government policy has regularly missed the mark when considered against the realities of our sector. We have been missing specialised representation by those that understand our industry’s unique challenges and attributes and we anticipate that this development will pave the way for a more cohesive representation for our sector.”