Economic Powerhouse for Today and in the Future

Tourism is New Zealand's largest export earner, contributing $5.2 billion to our economy in 2001 and supporting one out of every twelve jobs. United Future New Zealand recognises the historical importance of tourism in New Zealand and its increasing relevance in the global economy of the 21st century. Tourism not only offers obvious economic benefits to New Zealand but it also has the potential to make a sustainable contribution to our quality of life and our economic, social and cultural development. Consequentially, tourism benefits and strengthens our communities and families.

New Zealand's image as a scenic, environmentally-conscious nation provides us with an important marketing tool for promoting tourism in overseas markets. Therefore, tourism should be based on sustainable, eco-friendly industries and infrastructural development should be encouraged to support primary tourism ventures. Flexible economic policies and business-friendly cost structures are essential to ensure tourism can prosper and benefit New Zealanders in the greatest possible way.

United Future will:

• Ensure tourism is a strategic economic priority for government
• Work with the industry to develop a coherent Tourism Development Strategy that emphasises New Zealand as an attractive visitor destination and ensures higher levels of service standards in the industry. An effective training programme that takes into account the job rich potential of the industry is essential.
• Lower compliance costs and minimise red-tape and regulations. A review of the vast array of regulations impacting on the tourism sector is needed.
• Promote self-regulation in the industry, where appropriate
• Establish a dedicated tourism research and development fund with an emphasis on added value and new venture criteria
• Overhaul the Tourism Industry Training Association to reflect present and future employment and marketing needs
• Incorporate cultural and community values into industry initiatives, ensuring that cultural protocols are respected
• Encourage private and public sector tourism bodies to work closely together and produce more coordination across the industry.
• Reduce the company tax rate to 30 cents in the dollar over 3 years to assist companies operating in the sector
• Streamline tax compliance and the penalties regime
• Review all legislation and regulations that impose coercive powers (e.g. Resource Management Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act) to ensure that the impact on business is minimised yet is consistent with the overall public interest
• Ensure labour legislation is not a disincentive to business development and job creation
• Introduce mandatory environmental reporting and disclosure requirements as incentives to improve environmental performance and encourages wider use of natural resource accounting systems

United Future Parliamentary Office: Bowen House, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Email: Phone: (04) 471 9410