Sitting on a fairly interesting tcon with Tourism New Zealand - looking at how visitor numbers are recovering (well up on last year, still a long way to go) and what's afoot in coming years (updated messaging, lots of face to face training with agents). Always good to get a bit of a longer term view

[–] Dave 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In the past, we have had high volume tourism. But IIRC both major parties have signalled an intention to move towards high value tourism (less tourists, but the tourists have more money).

My line of thinking was maybe the tourism was higher value, but it seems spending by international visitors was pretty flat last year: https://figure.nz/chart/OfFdbKzIdnKXFLx2

[–] Axisential 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, that matches what I've seen as well. My take on it is that the "higher value tourism" idea is pretty notional - it's a great idea but there's not a lot of strategy behind it...yet?

[–] Dave 1 points 1 year ago

You're right. I think the move is simply a response to the public getting fed up with freedom campers and the like leaving a mess everywhere because of the high volumes.

Then they say let's move to lower volume, higher spending tourists and everyone is for it, even if there isn't an actual plan.