Displaying 1 - 24 of 52 results.

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay today announced the opening of an $8 million, four year funding round to enhance and maintain the Great Rides of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

“This Government is investing in improving our tourism infrastructure to make sure high-value visitors have a great experience and New Zealand remains a top tourist destination,” Mr McClay says.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay has welcomed the announcement that the world's biggest mountain bike event, Crankworx, is coming to Rotorua and said this will be celebrated by the New Zealand tourism sector.

Born in Whistler, British Columbia, Crankworx is a multi-disciplinary mountain bike festival celebrating endurance, supreme flow, monster air and vertical-dropping riding.

More than 750 international riders and competitors will participate in this event in Rotorua over five days in March 2015.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay emphasised the importance of the Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership as he helped launch Skyline’s Rotorua Mountain Bike Gravity Park today.

The Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership co-invested $225,000 alongside the $225,000 invested by Skyline Gravity Park to upgrade the park to international race standards.

“The Park offers an outstanding experience to the New Zealand mountain biking scene and will also grab interest from international mountain biking events and visitors,” Mr McClay says.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP) is investing in two further organisations in order to grow the tourism sector in New Zealand.

The TGP is investing $600,000 in the Canterbury Tourism Partnership to support the rebuild of the tourism sector in the Canterbury region, and $50,000 to China Travel Service NZ Ltd.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

New Zealand will host a meeting of Australian Tourism Ministers early next year to explore areas where the two countries can drive greater innovation and productivity in the tourism sector, Associate Minister of Tourism Todd McClay has said.

Mr McClay, who recently attended the Tourism Ministers Meeting in Australia, said that the meeting had not previously been held in New Zealand and he therefore decided to extend an invitation to his Australian counterparts to hold it here next year.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay has congratulated Tourism New Zealand on winning the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA) marketing Grand Award for the 100% Middle-Earth, 100% Pure New Zealand campaign.

“The hard-work and innovation of Tourism New Zealand’s marketing teams has been rewarded through winning this award, it is a great achievement that everyone at Tourism New Zealand should be very proud of,” Mr McClay says.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Streamlined visa arrangements will assist Australia and New Zealand to capitalise on the tourism opportunities that will flow from co-hosting the 11th ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015, ministers have said.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced that Kerry Prendergast has been reappointed Chair of the New Zealand Tourism Board for a one-year term.

The Board, trading as Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), markets New Zealand as a tourism destination.

“I would like to thank Kerry for her work on the board since she was first appointed in 2011, and look forward to her continued excellent contribution to the work of TNZ,” Mr Key says.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

Firstly I just want to acknowledge TIA Chairman Grant Lilly, Terry Ngan and Stephen Hamilton from Horwath HTL, and Garth Simmons from Accor.

I was pleased to accept the role as Associate Minister of Tourism when the Prime Minister gave it to me earlier this year. As MP for Rotorua, I have long been aware of the major role that tourism plays in the New Zealand economy. It is this Government’s ambition that tourism can make an even stronger contribution to New Zealand’s economic performance.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

The Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership is investing in Rotorua’s Skyline Gravity Park to upgrade its mountain bike tracks, Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay announced today.

Skyline’s proposal involves upgrading Gravity Park’s tracks to UCI racing standards, which will help Rotorua target major international mountain bike events.

“The Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership is funding $225,000 in addition to the $225,000 invested into the project by the Skyline Gravity Park,” Mr McClay says.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the Government’s Tourism Growth Partnership is investing in six projects to grow the tourism sector in New Zealand.

“The Tourism Growth Partnership is investing $3.84 million in the projects in this first round of funding. This is in addition to $23 million from the applicants, giving a total $26.8 million investment in the tourism industry.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key, has welcomed the recommitment from two leading partners who market New Zealand to the world.

“I am delighted to hear of Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand’s renewal of their annual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and commitment to invest a combined $20 million over the next 12 months to promote New Zealand as a visitor destination.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay has described the tourism industry as being in a very confident mood ahead of the annual TRENZ industry showcase in Auckland next week.

“New Zealand is well and truly leading the way when it comes to the bounce-back of international visitors since the Global Financial Crisis,” says Mr McClay.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Revenue and Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay today leaves for Kazakhstan to attend the Asian Development Bank’s Annual Meeting, the OECD Ministerial Council meeting in Paris, and tourism meetings in London.

The Annual Meeting is the major annual engagement New Zealand has with the ADB. New Zealand contributes to the Bank’s Ordinary Capital Reserves, which is reflected by our shareholding with the Bank.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism
  • Revenue

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the opening of the second funding round of the Tourism Growth Partnership.

This $28 million Government incentive is available over four years and is aimed at boosting innovation and uplifting productivity in the tourism sector to ensure New Zealand gains more from international visitors’ spend.

This contestable funding round will be accepting applications until 31 May 2014.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

The Government’s major investments in Tourism New Zealand and the screen industry are paying big dividends according to Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay.

Results of NZIER research, released today by Tourism New Zealand, show that tourism marketing efforts are having a major impact on the number of visitor arrivals in New Zealand.

Arrivals were up by 7.3 per cent to 2.77 million to February 2014, the highest one-year growth rate in a decade.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key, has welcomed the British Government’s decision to reduce duties for passenger flights to New Zealand.

“I have consistently advocated for such a change, which will benefit travelling New Zealanders and encourage more tourists to come to New Zealand.”

Chancellor George Osborne announced in the UK Budget last night the scrapping of the top two bands of air passenger duty, which apply to long-haul flights, to take effect from 1 April 2015.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

A $300,000 Government investment will help build the international profile of the Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon, Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay announced today.

The race this Saturday is the southern-most global location of the new 10-event Ultra-Trail World Tour series and will showcase 100 kilometres of beautiful lake, forest and geothermal landscapes from Rotorua to Kawerau. 

A record 190 international athletes from 27 countries have registered to compete alongside 660 local competitors.

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today, in a pre-Budget announcement, said $8 million would be invested over four years to help maintain the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail (NZCT) Great Rides.

'Nga Haerenga - The New Zealand Cycle Trail' is a partnership project between the Government and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Prime Minister, speaking in Queenstown, also announced up to $500,000 in additional funding for the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail in Southland.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

Thank you, David, for your welcome. I am delighted to join you today to mark the inaugural trans-Tasman flight of Jetstar’s flagship 787 Dreamliner.

As the Associate Minister of Tourism, I am heartened by the confidence that Jetstar is demonstrating in the New Zealand market, by choosing to invest in the Dreamliner and fly it to New Zealand.

Jetstar’s innovative approach

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Thank you Mai Chen for the introduction and thank you also to the New Zealand Asian Leaders organisation for inviting me here to speak at the inaugural Asian Leaders Forum.

While I have only recently been appointed in the role of Associate Minister of Tourism, I have been the MP for Rotorua since 2008 so I am well aware of the value of tourism and the increasing opportunities that Asia presents. I would like to talk briefly about these today. 

  • Todd McClay
  • Tourism

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the appointment of Richard Leggat as Chair of Nga Haerenga – the New Zealand Cycle Trail Incorporated (NZCT Inc.)

The Government recently created Nga Haerenga – the New Zealand Cycle Trail Incorporated, with all 23 Great Rides invited as members to be responsible for the governance and management of NZCT. 

“Mr Leggat will bring strong leadership skills, excellent relationship management and a highly collaborative approach to support the NZCT network and brand,” Mr Key says.

  • John Key
  • Tourism
  • Prime Minister

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the appointment of Jacqui Spice, Norm Thompson, and Chris Parkin as members of the New Zealand Tourism Board.

Jacqui Spice is the founder and Director of Touch of Spice Ltd, a New Zealand luxury travel and concierge company.  Ms Spice’s extensive experience in the luxury tourism and hospitality markets will be immensely valuable to the Board as Tourism New Zealand increases its focus on high-value visitors.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Tourism

Associate Tourism Minister Chris Tremain will travel to Los Angeles today to represent the Government at The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug world premiere.

“The world premiere in L.A provides the opportunity to build on the success of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and first of the Hobbit trilogy, and strengthen the New Zealand-Americas tourism relationship,”  says  Mr Tremain.

  • Chris Tremain
  • Tourism