WELLINGTON: The government of New Zealand is planning for a revamped tourism sector after the Covid-19 vaccination program and when international borders reopen, according to Tourism Minister Stuart Nash on Friday.

The Zealand USD 400 million tourism recovery package in 2020 was an emergency intervention. Further, structural support will be needed in 2021 before changes will be made to prepare for a new landscape in 2022 and beyond, Nash said.

Addressing a conference at the University of Otago Tourism Policy School, Nash set out priorities for the country's pillar industry, as per Xinhua reports.

"The 2020 Package, and wider tourism support like NZUSD1.8 billion in wage subsidies, NZUSD300 million in interest-free loans, and government-funded vouchers for free business advice or training, have helped tourism operators adapt to domestic markets or look for alternatives.

"I have been upfront that mass-scale international tourism is unlikely before 2022, but we are working hard to open a trans-Tasman bubble in 2021. We are on-track to vaccinate the majority of Kiwis against Covid-19 by the end of this year," the Minister said.

Further support for tourism in 2021 requires a more structural approach for those who need it most, he said, adding potential next steps till borders re-open include making it easier to hibernate firms and to start up again, help to diversify regional economies over-reliant on international tourism, and deployment of tourism workers to other sectors.

Tourism is one of the most important sectors of New Zealand's national economy, which directly contributed about 6 percent of the gross domestic product prior to the pandemic.

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