With tourism starting to make a comeback, there's calls for the government to get its checkbook ready if it plans to welcome more tourists to our shores. Just over three hundred and twenty one thousand tourists came to the country in November. That's eighty six percent of pre pandemic figures from the same month in twenty nineteen. The new Minister for Economic Growth and Nicola Willis, has set her sights on a wealthier economy, saying attracting more tourists would help to make that happen. Queenstown mag Lin, Lewis joins me. Now, good to have you with us.

With tourism starting to make a comeback, there's calls for the government to get its checkbook ready if it plans to welcome more tourists to our shores. Just over three hundred and twenty one thousand tourists came to the country in November. That's eighty six percent of pre pandemic figures from the same month in twenty nineteen. The new Minister for Economic Growth and Nicola Willis, has set her sights on a wealthier economy, saying attracting more tourists would help to make that happen. Queenstown mag Lin, Lewis joins me. Now, good to have you with us.

Glynn, good morning. Hey.

Glynn, good morning. Hey.

Tourism's bounced back in Queenstown pretty well, hasn't it.

Tourism's bounced back in Queenstown pretty well, hasn't it.

It has its bounced back pretty hard and fast post pandemic. And I think we've which new heights over the last summer seeing the amount of people have come just the last couple of weeks.

It has its bounced back pretty hard and fast post pandemic. And I think we've which new heights over the last summer seeing the amount of people have come just the last couple of weeks.

So would you welcome more tourists.

So would you welcome more tourists.

I'd welcome Morris. There is a proviso that the infrastructure to support and accommodate more tourists and visitors is accounted for.

I'd welcome Morris. There is a proviso that the infrastructure to support and accommodate more tourists and visitors is accounted for.

Your voting package gets thrown out a lot as being the answer to everything. What else do you need?

Your voting package gets thrown out a lot as being the answer to everything. What else do you need?

Look that sustainable investment in actually providing that sed infrastructure that both residents and visitors use. I think that needs to be really well thought through and if that can happen, Yeah, I think we have the capacity to have more tourists. But even the simple things like making sure that we have enough let's say, air traffic control, talent to to air functioning, airport investment, and customs security, those sorts of things, Because I can tell you now that having an airport, an international airport here, those are the sorts of things when I talk to my airport, we've talked about our airport. Those are the sorts of things that actually can get in the way of actually allowing international visitors into the country.

Look that sustainable investment in actually providing that sed infrastructure that both residents and visitors use. I think that needs to be really well thought through and if that can happen, Yeah, I think we have the capacity to have more tourists. But even the simple things like making sure that we have enough let's say, air traffic control, talent to to air functioning, airport investment, and customs security, those sorts of things, Because I can tell you now that having an airport, an international airport here, those are the sorts of things when I talk to my airport, we've talked about our airport. Those are the sorts of things that actually can get in the way of actually allowing international visitors into the country.

Nikola Willis has hindered at making changes to visas to help bring in more tourists. What do you think of that?

Nikola Willis has hindered at making changes to visas to help bring in more tourists. What do you think of that?

Yeah, I actually do welcome that. I think there's actually opportunity to go even further, especially in welcoming behind end entrepreneur technology skill set. I think, yeah, that's a good start. I've got a few more ideas that I'll suggest to me. She makes her way down here at some stage.

Yeah, I actually do welcome that. I think there's actually opportunity to go even further, especially in welcoming behind end entrepreneur technology skill set. I think, yeah, that's a good start. I've got a few more ideas that I'll suggest to me. She makes her way down here at some stage.

And if you look at it a little bit more broadly, you know, not just in Queenstown's sort of situation, but how can the government support the growing number of visitors do you think across the country.

And if you look at it a little bit more broadly, you know, not just in Queenstown's sort of situation, but how can the government support the growing number of visitors do you think across the country.

Look, my view is actually sort out points of entry first, So there's from my reckoning, there's probably four points of entry Auckland ranked and christ Divisi in Queenstown. When it comes to national visitors through airports, sort those points of entry out so the experience for the visitor when they first arrives and makes and make sure that that distribution outside those points of entry is as simple and as easy as possible. So you regionalize extra tourism. It's as easy as possible. Because last time they tried this, they didn't do it and it just clogged up. It just made a mess of Queenstown and back and let's say the mid twenty ten, that's what we're really consumed about.

Look, my view is actually sort out points of entry first, So there's from my reckoning, there's probably four points of entry Auckland ranked and christ Divisi in Queenstown. When it comes to national visitors through airports, sort those points of entry out so the experience for the visitor when they first arrives and makes and make sure that that distribution outside those points of entry is as simple and as easy as possible. So you regionalize extra tourism. It's as easy as possible. Because last time they tried this, they didn't do it and it just clogged up. It just made a mess of Queenstown and back and let's say the mid twenty ten, that's what we're really consumed about.

Glen. Look one, I've got you just wondering if you'd like to comment on the Winter Games, which will no longer be held in its current format kind of in your neighborhood. It's a bit of a shame isn't it.

Glen. Look one, I've got you just wondering if you'd like to comment on the Winter Games, which will no longer be held in its current format kind of in your neighborhood. It's a bit of a shame isn't it.

Oh yes, so I opened it two years ago. This is this one hurts quite a bit because obviously I knew On before his passing. He was a big player in our district. And I think that's one's things a little bit more because of the origins of the Winter Games. Look, I feel so sorry for Sam and Marty would have been Sam that year and made to World have been just such a hard decision to make given the background. But those economic conditions indexed was it to the European currency for prize money and entries and please say, yeah, real tough. Feel really sorry for the organization and really disappointed because it was a huge event for our district and outside outside of the district as well.

Oh yes, so I opened it two years ago. This is this one hurts quite a bit because obviously I knew On before his passing. He was a big player in our district. And I think that's one's things a little bit more because of the origins of the Winter Games. Look, I feel so sorry for Sam and Marty would have been Sam that year and made to World have been just such a hard decision to make given the background. But those economic conditions indexed was it to the European currency for prize money and entries and please say, yeah, real tough. Feel really sorry for the organization and really disappointed because it was a huge event for our district and outside outside of the district as well.

Dlen, thank you so much for your time this morning. Really appreciated. That was Queenstown May Glenn Lewis.

Dlen, thank you so much for your time this morning. Really appreciated. That was Queenstown May Glenn Lewis.

For more from Early edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live to News Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

For more from Early edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live to News Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.