Media Release
12 September 2005
Tourism industry leaders meet in Wellington
160 people from a wide cross-section of the tourism industry are attending the Wellington Tourism Forum at the Duxton
Hotel on Tuesday, September 12, 2005.
“Tourism in the Wellington Region is worth $1.2 billion per annum, and it is growing rapidly,” says Tim Cossar, Chief
Executive Officer of Positively Wellington Tourism, which is delivering the forum. “Almost one in ten people within the
region are employed in the industry, and on the average day 23,000 visitors are staying in the Wellington region.”
The Wellington Tourism Forum is an opportunity for people to learn more about the current tourism marketing and
development activity in Wellington.
“We’re currently operating in a very challenging and competitive tourism environment,” says Tim Cossar. “Despite this,
we are maintaining and growing our market share, and we are optimistic about the future.”
Speakers include Fiona Luhrs, Chief Executive Officer for the Tourism Industry Association, and Stuart Neels, President
of the Inbound Tour Operators Council and Managing Director of ATS Pacific, as well as Positively Wellington Tourism
staff.
“We’ve been told this is one of the best line-ups of speakers that have ever been organised for a Regional Tourism
Forum,” says Tim Cossar. “We expect these industry leaders to provide a lot of insight into the current market.”
“It is great to see how many people want to participate in this forum,” says Tim Cossar. “Wellington and New Zealand
tourism have a lot of opportunities and challenges ahead. This is all about looking for opportunities to grow and build
economic development in Wellington. The Wellington Tourism Forum is one way we can bring people together to be more
effective.”
ENDS