Hamilton City Council’s decision to maintain its current funding for Waikato’s regional tourism organisation is a massive win for the businesses, workers and local communities who benefit from the visitor economy.
Nicola Greenwell
The council draft Long-Term Plan for 2024-34 originally budgeted a 50 per cent reduction to our funding, removing $357,945 from our budget.
A large number of submissions from many groups, businesses and individuals across Hamilton were made on behalf of Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, encouraging elected members to reconsider their decision.
We were pleased to see Hamilton City Council kept an open mind, listened to the submissions and saw the benefit a strong regional tourism organisation and the visitor sector brings to the region.
Tourism directly employs more than 12,000 people across Waikato and provides $1.9 billion to our region’s GDP through visitor spending – it’s a big part of our local economy.
The council’s ongoing funding means we can continue our mahi to increase the contribution leisure and business travel brings to our region and continue to build the capability of our local tourism industry.
We are also cautious: while we celebrate Hamilton City Council’s decision, we are concerned over the reduced funding levels from the rest of our partner councils.
Kiwiana wall, Otorohanga. Hamilton and Waikato Tourism
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism is funded by a public/private partnership, with the bulk of our funding usually coming from six supporting Waikato councils – Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, Waipā District Council, Matamata-Piako District Council, Waitomo District Council and Ōtorohanga District Council.
The whole region benefits from tourism through the jobs it creates; the culture it enriches; and the vibrancy it brings through support for events, cafes, restaurants, hospitality venues and local stores.
We continue to explore the implications of funding reductions from the other councils we partner with. The overall impact of funding decisions by the other councils who partner with Hamilton & Waikato Tourism results in an 18 per cent reduction in funding.
As it stands Hamilton and Waikato Tourism ranks 28th out of 31 New Zealand tourism organisations when it comes to the amount of funding we receive per resident. What the team and our local industry achieves on a limited budget is exceptional, but money only stretches so far.
We will continue to explore new ways of working as a result of the change in funding levels.
Hamilton City
