TIANZ summit challenges tourism industry leaders to 'think different'

Tomorrow will see New Zealand's tourism leaders challenged to 'think different' so as to better place the industry to cope with current challenges and embrace new opportunities generated by a rapidly changing international tourism environment.

The Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIANZ) Summit, being sponsored by Westpac and held at Rydges Wellington, is already a sell-out, with 230 tourism industry leaders assembling to actively participate in a range of thought-provoking presentations and interactive debates.

This Summit, being held on Tuesday 2nd October, will be entirely 'future focused', with the aim of taking delegates past the mind blocks that may be holding the industry back.

TIANZ Chief Executive Martin Snedden explains "there is an old saying in sport if you keep doing the same old things, the same old ways, why would you expect anything other than the same old results. This is equally applicable to tourism.

"The world of tourism is changing at a great rate. If tourism in New Zealand is to grow and prosper, we must continue to embrace the many opportunities these changes present.

"Furthermore we will be strongly encouraging our private sector to take primary ownership for stabilising and growing the tourism sector. The public sector has been and will continue to be vital partners and supporters of our industry but ultimate responsibility for success in tourism rests within the private sector."

Keynote speakers at the Summut include the Ann Sherry AO, Chief Executive of cruise ship operator Carnival Australia, who will champion the value of cruise ship passengers to New Zealand's tourism industry and economy.

Also speaking will be John Lee, Chief Executive of Australia's Tourism and Transport Forum (TIANZ's Australian counterpart), who is well known for his forthright and no-nonsense views on all things tourism. Lee will share with us how Australia's tourism industry leaders are facing up to the future.

Six breakout sessions will focus on provocative topics such as taxing visitors to fund tourism, whether or not domestic tourism is undervalued, and the challenge the industry is facing keeping up with and fully embracing rapid technological change.

Snedden concludes "these sessions are not designed to be comfortable for anyone. We want attendees to be challenged to 'think different' to find solutions to issues which need resolving.

"Our overarching objective is create a momentum which will drive tourism in New Zealand towards a healthy and vibrant future."

The winners of two Tourism Industry Awards will also be announced at the 2012 TIANZ Summit. The 2012 PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award and the Horwath HTL Sir Jack Newman Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry, will be presented.

For more information about the 2012 Tourism Summit, go to www.tianz.org.nz/main/2012-tia-summit 

Image shows the Wellington waterfront.