Tourism high on the agenda as Jacinda Ardern visits Australia

Tourism high on the agenda as Jacinda Ardern visits Australia
By James Harrison


New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is in Australia this week for trade and political engagements where she highlighted that tourism is high on the agenda.

During her visit, the Kiwi PM attended a meeting with Anthony Albanese and take part in an ANZ leadership forum alongside other New Zealand ministers.

The visit will focus on trade, tourism and reconnecting New Zealand with Australia as the world recovers from the effects of the pandemic.

“This trade mission is one of many steps this Government is taking to reconnect New Zealand with the world while actively strengthening partnerships between government, business and industry,” Ardern said in a statement on Monday.

Ardern is set to engage with tourism leaders from Australia and New Zealand while in Sydney, where she will meet with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and then meet Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in Melbourne.

NZ Tourism Minister Stuart Nash is accompanying Ardern and he said that Australia is the New Zealand’s largest source of visitors.

More than 1.55 million Aussies made their way across the Tasman Sea in 2019 and contributed over NZ$2.7 billion (AUD$2.45 billion) to New Zealand’s economy, Nash told the SBS.

“With our borders now open and the removal of pre-departure testing, we’ve created significant opportunities for tourism recovery as we welcome back our Australian friends,” Nash said.

In a recent interview with Travel Weekly, Nash, said it has been fantastic to see Aussie travellers return to holiday in the country.

“In certain areas of our country, it’s been really tough. Places like Queenstown, for example, and Milford Sound – are some of the iconic Kiwi places down on the South Island that had a real reliance on international tourism,” Nash said.

“Overall we’ve really missed international tourists.

“There’s so much to see and do in New Zealand and there’s something for everyone, whether you’re into adventure, tourism, skiing, fine wine and food, and (visiting) friends and family.”

The New Zealand government dropped its mandatory pre-departure testing last month, about a month earlier than originally planned.

Featured Image: Sky News

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