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Tourism Export Council New Zealand chair Scott Mehrtens says the tourism sector should shift its focus from recovery to long-term growth, arguing the industry is now well placed to build on its post-pandemic rebound.
Speaking at the opening of the Tourism Export Council NZ Conference in Christchurch, Scott said the sector had reached a turning point after several years dominated by border closures, labour shortages and global disruption.
“For much of the past six years, tourism has felt locked. But this conference is not about what held us back. It is about what has now been unlocked.”
Scott said New Zealand had recovered to around 94 per cent of pre-COVID international visitor arrivals, while TECNZ membership had reached a record 641 members.
“Recovery has been our focus. But recovery was never meant to be the destination. Recovery was simply the bridge to our future.”
He said the industry’s next phase should be built around global connectivity, distribution, innovation and sustainable growth, while welcoming the Government’s Tourism Growth Roadmap and its ambitions to restore international visitor numbers, double tourism export value by 2034 and grow the tourism workforce.
Scott acknowledged ongoing challenges, including global instability and rising operating costs, but urged tourism businesses to continue investing in people, products and infrastructure.
“The best years of New Zealand tourism are not behind us. They are still ahead of us.”
