New Zealand strengthens tourism workforce to revive industry

WELLINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Aiming to stay as one of the world's top tourism destinations, New Zealand is supporting its tourism industry to build back "a better, stronger and more resilient tourism sector" after more than three years of pause due to COVID-19.

"With the borders open, international visitors are returning," Minister of Tourism Peeni Henare said in a press release on Wednesday.

This includes making sure the tourism workforce is skilled and supported through education as well as good career pathways, pay and working conditions, Henare said.

"We all want tourism to be a good career option, and that starts by ensuring it is," he said.

The better work plan includes the establishment of a Tourism and Hospitality Accord. This will be a voluntary employer accreditation scheme that identifies those businesses in tourism and hospitality who are treating their staff well, the minister said.

There will be closer collaboration between industry and education providers to ensure the right skills are being taught to fill the jobs the sector needs, he said, adding that whether employee-sharing can reduce the unstable and seasonal elements of tourism will also be tested.

"We want to turn around the negative perception and reality for some, that working in tourism doesn't pay well and the work can be unstable and low paid," Henare said, adding that this is the first phase of the Tourism Industry Transformation Plan, announced in 2021.