Andrew Little: Major tourism challenge looms

BUSINESS AS USUAL: Andrew Little, Labour Party justice and tourism spokesman, was in Rotorua yesterday and met Stewart Brown, Rotorua Museum director, among others. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

While political commentators play the guessing game about who will take over the party's leadership it was business as usual for Labour's Andrew Little.

The Labour Party's justice and tourism spokesman was in Rotorua yesterday and visited the Community Law Office, Whakarewarewa Village and Te Roopu A Iwi O Te Arawa.

He also lunched with a group of local tourism operators at the Rotorua Museum.

Mr Little said Rotorua's tourist operators would face a new challenge in the near future with a predicted influx of Chinese and Asian tourists to the country.

"Rotorua has a diverse tourist offering but with another 800,000 Chinese tourists predicted to be coming to New Zealand over the next few years everyone in the industry needs to be focused and ready," he said.

"This will provide some great opportunities for Rotorua, which is a very easy place to get to, but also provide challenges."

He said accommodation providers would be put under pressure as well as service industries, which would need to adapt to the changing market.

"Tourism operators have told me Rotorua is often shut after 5pm, so it will have to be a place where people will want to come," he said.

On the Labour Party leadership, Mr Little said he had to be realistic and while he would think about putting his name forward he was not overly optimistic.

"The reality is the party is somewhat on the back foot ... we need a leader who can make an immediate impact.

"There's a fair amount of talent in our caucus," he said.