Qualmark the winner in new tourism funding

Tourism Minister Mark Burton today released further details of extra government funding for the tourism industry, announced in last year's budget.

The biggest winner is Qualmark, which will receive an extra $2.5 million during the next 2-1/2 years.

Qualmark is an independent classification and rating system for accommodation and tourism businesses owned and funded by the Government, through Tourism New Zealand, and the Automobile Association.

"Qualmark provides visitors with a reliable standardised quality assurance system," Mr Burton said in a statement.

"By linking the marketing advantages of belonging to the Qualmark system to the adoption of best business practice, individual businesses and the tourism industry as a whole will benefit."

The Government would also fund three public-private sector partnerships:

* $169,000 to help Local Government New Zealand implement tourism strategy recommendations;

* $32,000 for regional tourism operations to establish a working group to respond to the strategy recommendations; and

* $25,000 to fund the Maori Tourism Advisory Group, in response to a strategy recommendation.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive and Qualmark chairman George Hickton welcomed the extra funding, saying quality standards were vital to the long-term success of New Zealand tourism.

"A focus on quality underpins New Zealand's status as a world class destination, enhancing our ability to attract visitors, keep them longer and bring them back for return visits," he said in a statement.

The extra $2.5 million would be used to expand the grading system to include such areas as adventure tourism, retail and eco-tourism.

"We believe the expansion of Qualmark into additional tourism sectors will assist businesses of all sizes within the industry to focus on quality delivery," Mr Hickton said.

- NZPA