International and local experts on some of the major issues facing New Zealands tourism industry will speak at the Tourism Industry Conference 2007 in Auckland, 29-30 August. Keynote speakers for the event recognised as the most important annual forum for the multi-billion dollar industry are Trade Me founder and CEO Sam Morgan and Larry Dwyer, Qantas Professor of Travel and Tourism Economics, University of New South Wales.

Mr Morgans subject will be The impact of online commerce on the travel and tourism industries, looking at why tourism and travel are major growth internet trading areas; and future directions for the tourism industry online.

Professor Dwyer, who will speak on Megatrends and the implications for tourism to 2020, publishes widely in the areas of tourism economics, tourism management and tourism planning. He has worked internationally with the World Tourism Organisation and undertaken consulting work for a number of Australian government agencies.The MC for the conference will be communications consultant David Beatson, former broadcaster and Vice President of Public, Government & International Relations at Air New Zealand.The two-day conference, to be held at SKYCITY Auckland, will feature numerous other speakers ranging from tourism operators to government agencies who can influence the environment within which the tourism industry operates.

They will focus on four of the key areas of industry input to the Draft New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015: Environmental sustainability Domestic travel and tourism Seasonality - how to attract more visitors in the shoulder and low seasons Local communities and tourism building better relationships between communities and the tourism industry.Visit www.nztourismconference.co.nz for more details.The Tourism Industry Conference is managed by TIA with support from key industry partners including the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism New Zealand.Key statistics about tourism: Tourism is the world’s fastest growing industry New Zealand tourism arrivals have increased by 61% since 1999 to 2.4 million Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years Tourism is New Zealand’s single largest export sector and contributed $8.3 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2006. That is 19.2% of exports Domestic tourism contributes $10.3 billion to the economy each year Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand. Tourism represents 8.9% ($12.8 billion) of gross domestic product and generates $531 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.
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