With an election looming, politicians are being urged look after tourism businesses devastated by the border closures. Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s pre-election wishlist describes the pandemic as the biggest shock it has ever faced, and chief executive Chris Roberts said it is very different scenario from the last election when things were booming. Alden Williams/STUFF Tourism operators’ inability to take guided walks on the Paparoa Track is cited as an example of the need to overhaul conservation regulations. Roberts said tourism was the first industry to be hit by the global pandemic and would be the last to recover, so bold changes were needed. “That impacts more than tourism operators, that’s across retail, hospitality, petrol stations; everyone is feeling that impact, right across New Zealand, there is nowhere that has escaped,” Roberts said.

Source: Stuff July 23, 2020 02:48 UTC