Nineteen events in Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago have been given an economic helping hand by the Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund. Funding worth $1.85million has been granted for events to be held from this month to next February. Events ranged from sporting, music, business and cultural to workshops, arts and film festivals, food and wine and garden festivals. The Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund is part of the Government’s $50million regional events fund to stimulate domestic tourism to help replace some of the spending lost from international tourists because of Covid-19. Mr Strong said applications were judged according to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment criteria which included offering opportunities to local business, engaging the local workforce and using 50% local suppliers.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 10, 2021 15:22 UTC