Business events industry applauds boost to Māori tourism

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) is welcoming a $10m funding boost for development of the Māori tourism sector announced in the 2017 Budget.

“For the business tourism sector, Māori culture is what sets New Zealand apart on the world stage,” CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan said.

“We applaud the work of NZ Māori Tourism, and the support from the government for Māori-led initiatives to build the capability and capacity of Māori tourism operators throughout New Zealand,” she said.

“From the welcoming experience to the hospitality, our culture creates a strong sense of place for people visiting New Zealand for business events. This is a real point of difference.

“We are excited about the growth in emerging Māori tourism experiences, cultural quality and authenticity bringing this into the business events sector. The opportunities are significant and, with the support of NZ Māori Tourism, we are looking to further develop the current product offering.”

New Zealand’s unique Māori cultural experiences and Māori tourism products will be on show to 500 buyers at the country’s largest business events exhibition, CINZ MEETINGS 2017 in Auckland next week.