KEY POINTS:
Jet boat operator Rusty Poppe hadn't heard about the Government's updated tourism industry strategy released yesterday - in fact he never knew it had one.
"We're only a small business ... so we're so busy just doing our own thing that we don't worry too much about the bigger picture," Poppe said.
However, Poppe - co-owner of Taupo-based jet boats business Rapids Jet - would be interested to read the draft document in which environmental protection was a key issue.
"Obviously the environment and keeping the river clean is huge for us," Poppe said. Overseas customers were stunned by the clarity of NZ water.
The draft New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 has been drawn up by the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Industry Association and Tourism New Zealand following consultation with the sector.
Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor said the issues facing the industry included raising the quality of products, increasing financial return and sustainability.
"Over the term of the strategy, the world and New Zealand can expect to see accelerating change, with intensified pressures from climate change and rapid evolution in consumer attitudes and expectations, and that's why the strategy must be bold," O'Connor said.
Tourism accounts for 18.7 per cent of all exports, contributes 9 per cent to gross domestic product, with total expenditure of $17.5 billion in the year ending March 2005.
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Fiona Luhrs wanted to see tourism businesses on a fast track to becoming environmentally friendly, with improved yields and profitability and a better ability to attract and retain staff.
"We're looking for change to behaviour by tourism businesses and to make that happen ... we want to know what information do you need, what tools do you need, what programmes do you need, what help do you need so that you can start this process within your business."
The draft document was available for public comment until June 27.
"Fierce competition from new destinations, critical staff shortages and an intense focus on our environmental credentials from key visitor markets are just a few of the challenges we need to tackle front on," Luhrs said.
But Tourism Holdings CEO Trevor Hall said although a guiding strategy was a good idea, there seemed to be little alignment among ministries.
"They're not working hard enough to get us a sustainable industry," Hall said. "At the moment the weakness in the legislative environment forces us closer to Third World operations than it does to developed."
Any chance of improving yield, quality and environmental management was being undermined by the importation of polluting end-of-life vehicles, Hall said.
"I would love to go out there and put 15 Euro 4 [high environmental standard] coaches on the road - that's going to cost me about $8.5 million," he said. "However, at the moment a competitor can come and import a coach that's already been made illegal in Korea and Japan for $40,000 so how can I make that Euro 4-compliant decision without some assistance from central government?"
Tourism Holdings was importing second-hand rental cars from Japan to remain competitive, he said.
The Draft
Aims to:
* Increase profits
* Protect and enhance the environment
* Focus on people in a tight labour market
* Encourage year-round travel
* Respect community values
