Auckland Council Urged to Pay More Attention to Tourism
April 6, 2012Auckland’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry must be given a higher priority in council plans for the city’s future, according to the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA).
In its submission to the Draft Auckland Plan, TIA says the final version of the Plan should be strongly aligned to the Visitor Plan developed by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
Auckland is New Zealand’s main gateway for international visitors and a major tourism destination in its own right. Tourism pours about $10.7 million a day into Auckland’s economy ($3.9 billion a year).
“Given the value of the visitor economy to the city and region, it should be given a higher profile in the final version of the Auckland Plan,” TIA Policy Manager Simon Wallace says.
“A strong Auckland with quality visitor infrastructure and services, efficient public transport and a vibrant centre are all critical to the experience of the 70% of international visitors who arrive or depart through Auckland.”
The needs of the tourism industry should be considered in Auckland Council’s plans for the city’s economy, infrastructure and transport. A higher profile for the visitor economy would be consistent with Mayor Len Brown’s aspirations for Auckland to become a world class city where visitors are a key driver of economic growth, Mr Wallace says.
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