National says its tourism policy will rebuild the industry "towards the levels of success it had prior to COVID-19", party leader Judith Collins announced in Rotorua on Friday.
"The men and women of New Zealand tourism have built an industry that is world-renowned through offering unique experiences and making visitors feel welcome," Collins said.
She said under a National government, tourism would return to being one of Aotearoa's biggest export earners and employment levels would return to the pre-COVID levels of approximately 400,000 people.
Part of the plan would be the introduction of a $100 million Tourism Accelerator Fund to support tourism businesses and operators.
"National has listened to the sector and developed a plan to work collaboratively by partnering with local government, iwi and tourism sector representatives as well as tourism businesses to speed up decision making and cut out the bureaucracy," Collins said.
"We will rule out new tourism taxes, bring back and enhance the collection of tourism data, and modernise legislation including the Conservation Act 1987 and National Parks Act 1980 to be more tourism friendly."
National's tourism plan:
- The introduction of a $100 million Tourism Accelerator Fund to support tourism businesses and operators
- Allowing travel bubbles with neighbouring COVID-19-free countries when it is safe to do so
- Implement a consistent and transparent national framework for freedom camping
- Support the TRENZ tourism industry conference with $5 million for the next two years and enhance the collection of accommodation and tourism data
National's tourism spokesperson said closing the border to international visitors and subsequent local lockdowns have devastated the industry, which was worth more than $23 billion in 2019.
"National has already indicated we would look at flexible travel arrangements for people entering New Zealand from countries and territories that are COVID-free, such as the Pacific Islands, but only once it was safe to do so and we had set up our dedicated border agency, Te Korowai Whakamaru/NZ Border Protection Agency."
National's spokesperson for Māori Tourism Harete Hipango said this sector would play a key part in the industry's rebuild.
"National will support and build capability for Māori tourism in response to COVID-19 through our tourism plan so that the essence of Māori tourism continues to be represented to the domestic and international market," Hipango said.
