Tania Tapsell: Rotorua Mayor on government injects 13.5 million into Tourism NZ

The Government's pumping more funding into tourism marketing, with a goal of generating an extra $300 million in spending. 

Minister Louise Upston's announced a $13.5 million injection into Tourism New Zealand -- targeting Australia, the US, and China. 

It's expected to bring an extra 72 thousand visitors over coming years. 

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Ryan Bridge the spending goals easily achievable. 

She says Chinese visitors spend an average of $6,000 here, which is why they're being targeted.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now another tax payer tourism marketing blitz from Upston
and Luxeon, proudly announcing that yesterday thirteen point five million
dollars of ads will apparently get us an extra three
hundred million dollars in tourism spending. The advertising will target
the Aussi's, Americans and the Chinese tiny tapsules that us
that have met with me this morning. Time you, good morning,
good morning, Good to have you on the show. Do

(00:22):
you buy this? By the way, do you because we
had a blitz on Australia a couple of months ago,
have you seen any evidence that that's worked.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes, Actually it's been quite fantastic for us. In Little Todo.
We're a top tourism destination. But you know, we forget
that only a couple of years ago the borders were
closed and it takes some time to actually get the
visitors back. And I do appreciate that Australia, China and
North America are target areas as well. So I know
it seems quite extravagant that thirteen point five million will

(00:53):
get three hundred million dollars in spending, but we need
to remember tourism is very competitive and we are a
small country bottom of the world. This sort of investment
does make sure that we get our visitors into the country.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
I don't doubt you want it, but the question is
do you believe it?

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Yeah? What, I've actually had the pleasure of meeting tours
and New Zealand stuff in both China and Australia during
recent visits. And actually, yeah, I do because even like
the Chinese visitors, their average spend is six thousand dollars
when they do come here. That's why they are a
target market for us. They're very high spenders. And so yeah,

(01:31):
I do because actually a lot of these ads that
they see plants the seed for them to come to
New Zealand. But what we want to do is actually
create that action. And I'm quite excited for what these
additional investment and advertising will do for us.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yeah, okay, interesting. Mike is going to look at this
little later on in his program, Tania, what about I've
been reading the Rotter or Daily Post, great newspaper, the
story about bums on the main street, urinating, defecating, doing
drug stuff like that. That's hardly a good look for tourism,
is it.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
Nine. Unfortunately, this is something that's been experienced across the country.
But actually, what we've discovered is there's different ways to
help people. So these people were choosing to sleep on
a certain street because they were getting free meals, they
were getting hot drinks, they were getting lots of things
dropped off to them. So actually, we need to make

(02:20):
sure that when we do help people in need, and
it's a way that's enabling them to actually make the
right correct because these people do have a choice to
go somewhere other than our streets.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Because the sallies were giving them free mile oh and
stuff like that. So you reckon they should stop that.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Stop the handouts, well, just in an appropriate place because
camping out on a footpath in the middle of the
city is not an appropriate plate.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
Not a good look for you, is that for Tanya?
Appreciate your time this morning. Tania tapsle as thea she's
buying it for more.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
From early edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
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