We have to have rich tourists come here don’t you know? The trickle down system we have seen working so well whereby we, the 99%, can get a few crumbs of the rich mans table would provide us with some much needed tourist income. That is after we have paid for a Conference center subsidy to help the Sky Casino Mafioso and paid for the advertisment to lure rich pricks to the golf, fishing and hunting experiences in all those luxury accommodations we John Key’s rich prick mates own of course. And you know what? John Key may be right because pretty soon the rich pricks are the only ones who can afford to travel to New Zealand. So be prepared to pissed on by John Key’s rich prick mates, with a bit of luck you get to drink some of it!
PM announces special fund as part of $158m package and calls for new infrastructure.
Prime Minister John Key says a $158 million tourism package mainly for marketing overseas will need to be matched by new infrastructure – including convention centres – if the plan is as successful as hoped.
Key, who is also Tourism Minister, has made himself popular in the industry and said the spending over four years would be targeted at high- spending tourists and emerging markets such as Indonesia, India and Latin America.
“If New Zealand’s going to be successful in attracting overall numbers and the quality of spend we need to spend a bit more cash.”
During the past decade tourist numbers have increased but spending per visitor has fallen. High-end tourists, who in groups can spend $1 million a fortnight, would be targeted with a special $20 million fund.
Key outlined details of the new spending ahead of a major industry conference in Auckland yesterday, including $34 million of which would go on promoting New Zealand as a compelling convention and conference destination for the most lucrative markets, Australia, the United States and China, India, Indonesia and Singapore.
Questioned about the lack of a large venue in Auckland, Key said there were a “number of problems” throughout the country with the centre in Christchurch devastated by the earthquakes, Queenstown had yet to sign off on its centre and there was not yet a decision on the SkyCity convention centre.
The SkyCity deal was embroiled in controversy after a concession to have more casino pokie machines in return for the company building the centre. A spokeswoman last night said the company was still negotiating with the government.
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Aotearoa: A Wider Perspective 
If private business profits, they should pay. Not the taxpayer!