Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett has announced a $5.5 million fund to help support tourism infrastructure in New Zealand.
The fund will help councils build tourism infrastructure, such as $110,000 of funding for Whakatane District Council in the previous funding round to enhance four designated overnight camping areas."
"We all know tourism is great - for our regional economies, for jobs, for all sorts of businesses. It's our biggest export earner, and in Bay of Plenty alone visitors spent over $1.7 billion in the year to January," Ms Bennett said.
"In most places we have excellent visitor facilities, but there's no doubt we need more to support growth in the sector. Every area needs something different - whether that's bogs or bins, carparks or campgrounds, infrastructure is key."
Ms Bennett said she was working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the industry to meet immediate demands now while also looking towards the future.