International Praise for NZ Tourism Strategy

743482 Media Statement

International Praise for New Zealand Tourism Strategy

2015 Friday 14 November 2008 – For immediate release

New Zealand has just been awarded ‘Overall Winner’ in the prestigious Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008.

Competing alongside 1,900 international nominees, New Zealand has come out on top demonstrating international recognition of the quality of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 (NZTS 2015).

Judges said “New Zealand is the overall winner for proving that it is possible to develop a national strategy which uses tourism to help make better places to live and to visit.

New Zealand has implemented many of the principles of the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations and demonstrated what national government can achieve - working with the private sector, local communities and local government - by harnessing tourism to benefit their people and their environment.

If more national governments followed their example, tourism would make a much more positive contribution around the world.”

“It is a real coup for New Zealand to receive such high international endorsement,” said Ray Salter, Ministry of Tourism General Manager. “We are very proud of collectively producing a strategy that fully recognises that maintaining and improving the quality of our environment is absolutely fundamental to a successful tourism industry. The Strategy also recognises that it is crucial that tourism benefits local communities and any development occurs on their terms.”

The New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 was the result of extensive work between industry and government with the coordinating organisations being, the Ministry of Tourism, The Tourism Industry Association and Tourism New Zealand. The Strategy was launched in November last year. Mr Salter said that the Strategy was more relevant than ever during difficult economic times.

“The NZTS 2015 is a roadmap for a sustainable tourism industry for New Zealand. In the tough economic environment tourism is now facing, it is vital to strategically plan for tourism development and to continue to carve out our market niche as a boutique, high quality visitor destination.”

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