Wellington’s Sustainable Tourism Development Gets a Boost
06 August 2008
Wellington is set to take a lead role in sustainable tourism development, with news that it is one of nine regions to receive STAR Project funding.
Tourism Minister Damien O’Connor announced late last week that Positively Wellington Tourism will receive $88,000 over three years, through the Sustainable Tourism Advisers in Regions (STAR) Project.
“Sustainability has become increasingly important, for our national tourism development,” says Positively Wellington Tourism General Manager Marketing Sarah Meikle. “This funding will help ensure Wellington’s tourism industry is right in there, taking a lead role.”
The STAR Project funding will enable Positively Wellington Tourism to employ an adviser, who will work one on one with tourism operators to help improve their sustainable business practice.
“We are still working through the details of how Wellington will implement its STAR Project funding,” says Sarah Meikle. “There will certainly be some parameters around engaging with the Project, which we’ll communicate to our local industry. We will be working in partnership with Wellington City Council, and also see opportunities to work with our regional partners, including those that form the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.”
Positively Wellington Tourism is in the final phase of drafting its Wellington Tourism Strategy 2015, which is aligned to the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015. Sustainability forms a central pillar of the Wellington strategy, due to be launched later this year.
“Wellington already has many sustainable tourism stories, with several businesses making real progress in this area,” says Sarah. “But we are now establishing a clear framework for what we want to achieve collectively, as an industry.”
The other eight successful regions were Auckland, Central Otago, Coromandel, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, North Canterbury, Queenstown and Wairarapa.
