Initiative boosts NZ’s clean green reputation

Recycling initiative boosts NZ’s clean green reputation

13 November 2007

New Zealand’s $18.6 billion tourism industry will reap benefits from the Government’s new Recycling in Public Places Initiative, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

Commenting on the new scheme, launched by Prime Minister Helen Clark in
Wellington today, Ms Luhrs says it will be a significant boost to New Zealand’s international reputation for being clean and green.

“One of the key outcomes of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 (NZTS 2015), launched last week, is that the tourism sector takes a leading role in protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment,” Ms Luhrs says.

“New Zealand’s potential visitors – particularly those from the UK and Europe – are increasingly concerned about the environmental impacts of their travel globally. We aim to understand and meet their environmental expectations, which include being able to easily find recycling facilities.”

The recycling initiative will not only benefit the tourism industry but will assist the wider community’s efforts to protect New Zealand’s environment.
The tourism industry welcomes the Government’s support for its goal of delivering on New Zealand’s 100% Pure international marketing promise, and looks forward to working with it on other methods of implementing the NZTS 2015, Ms Luhrs says.

For more details on the NZTS 2015, visit www.nztourismstrategy.com

Key statistics about tourism:

- Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
- New Zealand tourism arrivals have increased by 61% since 1999 to 2.4 million
- Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years
- Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $8.3 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2006. That is 19.2% of exports
- Domestic tourism contributes $10.3 billion to the economy each year
- Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.
- Tourism represents 8.9% ($12.8 billion) of gross domestic product and generates $531 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

ENDS

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