KEY POINTS:
Plans to double New Zealand's convention tourism are to be pushed ahead even though the Government has yet to commit to funding a new national convention centre in Auckland.
Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) chief executive Alan Trotter said from next month it would introduce a new international strategy aimed at increasing the financial contribution of convention tourism to the economy from $250 million to $500 million by 2015.
It will employ a full-time researcher to identify potential conventions and hopes to open offices in North America and Asia to try to attract more business to New Zealand, as well as boosting its profile with several key international association bodies.
Trotter said the decision to push ahead with the strategy, which it is working on in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and Air New Zealand, had come because of concerns about slowing tourism growth for New Zealand.
"We could see a downturn coming," he said.
New Zealand international visitor numbers have been growing at a rate of around 4 per cent a year but in the last year they have slowed to just 1 per cent.
Trotter said convention centre business could play an important role in softening the impact of the downturn on New Zealand's tourism business as it was more resistant to downturns than leisure tourism and also allowed New Zealand to counter some of its seasonality issues.
"Association conventions are recession-proof - these are in the calendars of most big associations - what can go down is the number of people that come."
Trotter said the biggest month for convention centre business was August, precisely the time of year when New Zealand needed to boost its tourism numbers.
"That's when we have got flights to burn and hotels to fill."
But the one stumbling block which the association has yet to overcome is central government commitment for a national convention centre.
CINZ wants to see Auckland's Aotea Centre ripped down and replaced by a purpose-built facility that would cater for 4000 delegates. The ASB Theatre would remain.
Trotter said it had already received support from Auckland City Council, which has committed $70 million over two years to help fund a facility.
But the funding relies on central government backing to make up the further $280 million estimated to be needed to build the convention centre.
"We see this as a joint venture - it will be called a national convention centre.
"But it very much now depends on central government agreeing."
Trotter said CINZ was in talks with the Ministry of Economic Development and although there had not been an official commitment, a national convention centre was "nearer than it has ever been before".
Around 70,000 people come to New Zealand for conventions every year.
On average they spend five times more than the typical tourist.
Trotter said New Zealand needed to capitalise on the enormous opportunity.
"We have done well but we need to do better. In five years' time we will hit a wall in terms of a lack of infrastructure."
A decision needed to be made in the next 12 to 18 months or New Zealand would miss the boat.
* CINZ will hold its annual trade show meetings in Christchurch on July 30 and 31.
