Nash “lobbies for tourism” but no sign yet of borders opening

7th December 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Tourism minister Stuart Nash says he is lobbying Government on behalf of the tourism sector but cannot provide dates about opening international borders.

Nash told TVNZ’s Q+A programme on Sunday that he wanted to see international tourists return to New Zealand but he highlighted the latest MYOB business survey, which showed more than 80% of businesses were most concerned about a return of Covid.

“So we make no apology for having a risk-based approach and a health-based approach,” Nash said.

Stuart Nash on TVNZ’s Q+A

“But I would say every single week we’re closer and closer to the borders opening again but I certainly can’t give you a date.”

Even if international visitors could show they had been vaccinated there were still processes to be worked out.

“We are discussing this but the process of where we are at the moment to open borders when [vaccinated] people can come into our communities has not come before cabinet yet and is in the process being developed,” he said.

“At the moment there’s the risk the fruits in our orchards won’t get picked so it’s probably important for our economy [and] wise that we get these 2000 RSE workers (recognised seasonal workers) workers in so our regional economies survive this season and we get to export to the world what we produce.

“So, there are a number of competing elements we have to assess every time we look at who comes across our border, who goes into quarantine, and what we use those limited spaces in quarantine for this is a complex process.”

Nash said he was “lobbying on behalf of the tourism industry”.

“I want tourists as much as anyone. I know certain segments of the sector are doing it really tough at the moment. I know they will continue doing it tough until those borders are open and we have international tourists back here.

“But we do make not apologise for taking a risk-based approach and there would be nothing worse than if we did this too early and let international visitor back and something went wrong and after all the hard work we have done we let Covid in because we had not got the process right.”

There was no advance on opening a trans-Tasman bubble yet but prime minister Jacinda Ardern was talking with her counterpart Scott Morrison in Australia and so was the minister in charge of Covid response, Chris Hipkins, Nash said.

“We are working on this but we will not do this until we are clear we’re not creating frisk for New Zealanders and the economy.”

At this stage it looked unlikely borders would open for the Amercia’s Cup in early 2021.

“Let’s wait and see what happens. It’s not just a matter of Jacinda Ardern calling Scott Morrisson and saying things look pretty good. There’s a lot of work to do and process to put in place.”

Nash said he was having conversations with the minister of finance about further funding for tourism.

“There’s a budget coming out in May, let’s wait and see. I’m well aware there are a number of businesses in places like Queenstown reliant on the overseas visitors market,” he said.

“The Government has spent a significant amount of money, $400m to support tourism. We haven’t got an unlimited pot of money but I’m also aware our iconic tourism infrastructure is ready to go when the borders open.”