2021 support - Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan
The Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan targets 5 New Zealand communities and the businesses that are part of those communities.
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The 5 communities are: Queenstown Lakes, Southland (focussing around Te Anau and Fiordland), Kaikōura, Mackenzie, and Westland (focussing around Fox Glacier and Franz Josef).
These communities were identified because of the high dependence on international tourism in their local economies as a result of COVID-19.
The Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan also advances a nationwide re-set in the tourism sector. Initiatives focus on ensuring tourism will be more sustainable and resilient in the future.
Work is underway to implement the Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan. Further information on each of the components is set out below, and will be updated as delivery decisions are finalised.
The $200 million Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan includes:
| Target area | Initiative | Fund allocation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 communities | Psycho-social (or mental well-being) support is being delivered by District Health Boards (DHB) in the 5 communities. Each DHB will tailor delivery to meet local needs, and may include mental-health first aid training, community well-being events, and other locally identified initiatives. For specific details on what is available, contact your local DHB. |
$4.5 million |
| 5 communities | Business advisory support to help individual businesses make decisions about where to next. Updates on the 3 business initiatives Read a snapshot of how this support has made a difference to Kiwi businesses: Case Studies: March 2022 |
$10 million ($5,000 per business) |
| 5 communities | Grants for businesses to implement that business advice. Updates on the 3 business initiatives Read a snapshot of how this support has made a difference to Kiwi businesses: Case Studies: March 2022 |
$10 million ($5,000 per business) |
| 5 communities | Tourism Kick-start Fund to support businesses to re-start or scale up as tourism returns. Updates on the 3 business initiatives |
$49 million |
| Te Anau / Milford | Milford Opportunities project Funding for the next phase of the fundamental redevelopment of Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the surrounding region. The project aims to protect the local environment, and to increase the sustainability and quality of visitors’ experiences. This phase includes detailed planning, consenting, community consultation and preparation for the necessary infrastructure build. Read more about the Milford Opportunities project(external link) |
$15 million |
| Queenstown Lakes District | Queenstown Lakes Economic Transformation and Resilience Fund To support Queenstown’s development of alternative industries with the aim of increasing local economic resilience. Read about the Queenstown Lakes Economic Transformation and Resilience Fund |
$20 million |
| Nationwide | Grants to Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) Funding provided in 2021 is to support the RTOs in leading and coordinating activities in their regions, alongside the tourism industry, stakeholders, Māori/iwi and communities. In particular, developing and implementing destination management. Regional Tourism Organisations grants Funding is in addition to the $20.2 million in grants that was allocated to RTOs through the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP) in 2020/2021. Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme funding recipients |
$26.8 million |
| Nationwide | Tourism Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) The Tourism ITP will be a government partnership with tourism businesses and members of the tourism workforce, iwi, researchers and independent advisers. The Tourism ITP will build on recent work by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Tourism Futures Taskforce and Climate Change Commission, among others, to transform tourism in New Zealand to a more sustainable model. Tourism Industry Transformation Plan |
$10 million |
| Nationwide | Support for Māori Tourism New Zealand Māori Tourism is delivering a business support programme for Māori businesses. This work is aimed at helping reposition the industry for the future and ensuring that businesses are safeguarded in the short-term. In addition, funding has been put aside for anchor projects to boost tourism. Māori Business Response Tāpoi |
$15 million (over 2 years) |
| Nationwide | Department of Conservation (DOC) Funds to extend the current temporary fee waiver for DOC’s concessionaires (due to expire on 30 June 2021) for a further 6 months (until 1 January 2022). To be deployed by DOC. If you have any questions for DOC on this component of the Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan, please contact: transactioncentre@doc.govt.nz |
$10 million |
| Nationwide | Conversion of Inbound Tour Operator (ITO) loans to grants (up to $0.5 million per ITO) Conversion of up to $0.5 million per ITO of the STAPP loans to grants. This is for ITOs that accepted and received STAPP loans in 2020. ITOs promote and sell New Zealand travel packages to offshore buyers, such as wholesalers, travel agents, meeting planners, and event managers. Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme funding recipients |
$14 million |
| Nationwide | Tourism Infrastructure Fund Funding of a further round of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund. This is to support communities by co-funding infrastructure that is significantly used by visitors to prepare for the return of international tourists. The date for a further round will be announced later this year. Tourism Infrastructure Fund |
$16.5 million |
| Total fund committed | $200 million | |
If you have any questions about the Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan, please contact: tourism@mbie.govt.nz.
Last updated: 26 May 2022