10 September 2008
ITOC Supports Push For Better Government Partnership With Tourism Industry
The Inbound Tour Operators Council (ITOC) has given its full support to today’s launch of the Tourism Industry Election
Manifesto by the Tourism Industry Association (TIA).
Paul Yeo, chief executive of ITOC said: “Various governments over the years have not always given the tourism industry
the support it deserves. This is probably the first time we as an industry have coherently voiced why we should be taken
seriously in language any politician can understand – an industry that delivers value to government and prosperity to
voters in every electorate in the country.”
Mr Yeo said the Manifesto was short, sharp and easy to understand.
“That’s just what we need to rise above the noise in an election year,” said Mr Yeo.
“The plan sets out six objectives which are clearly our industry’s top priorities and we fully support all of them. We
are particularly pleased to see increased marketing for Destination New Zealand as one of these. Inbound tour operators
are at the forefront of developing new markets but they do so without the public sector investment that could really
make the difference. Our competitiveness in this area is declining as other destinations clearly see the value in
public-private joint ventures that gives them an advantage. ”
Mr Yeo said: “Part of the reason government has not always supported us as well as we’d like is that we have sometimes
struggled to effectively communicate what we want out of them. Having separate tourism organisations looking after the
interests of their diverse sub-sectors can be very effective in dealing with complex micro issues but not always useful
when it comes to communicating big picture strategies.”
“What we’ve achieved here is a simple six point plan that everyone in the tourism industry can understand and support. I
believe that government wants to see an industry committed to a concerted course of action and in the past we haven’t
done ourselves any favours by sometimes clouding the issues and not speaking with one voice.”
The ITOC CEO said the Tourism Industry Association should be congratulated on putting together a document that all
candidates standing for election should be encouraged to read.
“This will certainly aid us in not only informing the incoming government but also in getting our industry to work
better and smarter together for our own aims and objectives.”
ENDS