Applications are open for a new tourism recovery fund designed to support unique and transformative ideas that will improve the tourism sector. 

Tourism minister Stuart Nash said New Zealand was already at 88 percent of international electronic card transaction spend compared to 2019 “and the summer season has only just started”.

Visitors are becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their travel, he said, and the Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery is designed to support environmentally responsible initiatives.

“We want to see projects that are sustainable, low carbon and that can deliver on our goals for a high skilled and high wage sector,” he said.

“Successful projects will need to make a real difference across Aotearoa-New Zealand visitor’s journey - from the moment someone starts dreaming of a trip to New Zealand, to arriving in our country and experiencing all we have to offer, to them returning home to tell others about their trip”.

He acknowledged that Covid-19 was a difficult time with the tourism industry “even with our support through the $400M Tourism Recovery Package, and $200M Tourism Communities Plan”. 

“I’m pleased that we are now at a stage where we are fully focused on a bright and innovative future for our tourism sector.”

The $54M fund will be delivered across two funding streams.

One stream will be focused on discovery which will co-fund up to $25,000 for innovative ideas that may require further feasibility work to develop the concept. 

The second stream will focus on development and will fund innovative projects that are ready to be delivered and have a full proposal and business case to support its delivery with co-funding between $100,000 and $10M for successful projects. 

“We welcome innovative and impactful ideas that are going to contribute towards bettering business models, processes and experiences for tourism in Aotearoa – from climate resilience to technological improvements. We also encourage ideas from other sectors that could make a transformative impact on tourism,” Stuart said.

PHOTO: Wānaka App