Tourism Minister Peeni Henare Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government has unveiled a roadmap to strengthen the tourism workforce including an employee-sharing pilot between tourism and conservation.
The industry has been grappling with staffing issues and negative perceptions for years, but that has been exacerbated during the pandemic.
Tourism Minister Peeni Henare said the Better Work Action Plan would help to address these ongoing challenges.
It includes a voluntary Tourism and Hospitality Accord to set the bar for employment standards, fit-for-purpose education and training with new tourism qualifications to be developed, and a programme to build cultural competency.
The Accord was suggested by the industry to identify businesses that offered decent pay, training and career progression, and a safe and supportive work environment to help them attract quality staff.
"New Zealand continues to be one of the world's top tourism destinations, and with the borders open, international visitors are returning. We need to support our sector to rebuild a more resilient future that leaves people, communities, and the environment better off than before," Henare said.
"This includes making sure our tourism workforce is skilled and supported, through education, good career pathways, pay and working conditions. We all want tourism to be a good career option, and that starts by ensuring it is."
The employee sharing pilot would build on the Jobs for Nature programme, aiming to reduce the unstable and seasonal elements of tourism, he said.
Another initiative would explore options for clearer long-term immigration, which has been one of the bugbears of the industry.
"We want to turn around the negative perception - and reality for some - that working in tourism doesn't pay well and the work can be unstable and low paid. This Action Plan will help to improve conditions so that tourism is a job of choice that is fulfilling and desirable for people here and those coming from abroad," Henare said.
The industry would be encouraged to use more technology and innovation to lift productivity with initiatives including trade shows to showcase the existing and emerging technologies and an acceleration programme for innovation in tourism.
"The work to transform the tourism sector has been developed as part of the Industry Transformation Plan, a partnership between industry, unions, Māori and government.
"It is time to be excited, to look ahead to the future of the sector, and to rebuild the industry to be more resilient and more sustainable for both visitors and workers."
The plan is underpinned by six Tirohanga Hou (new ways of thinking):
- Recognising quality employers and improving employment standards and practices.
- Fit-for-purpose education and training.
- Embrace the flux, enable the flex (embracing seasonality).
- Improving cultural competency and ensuring authentic storytelling.
- Lifting technology uptake and innovation to support Better Work.
- Showcasing the great pathways and people in tourism.