Art for art’s sake, money for hospitality’s sake
Entertainment, events and hospitality sector equally worthy of support
Commenting on the New Zealand Government’s decision to implement a new arts and culture relief package, Hospitality NZ CEO, Julie White said the financial support needs to applied right across the entertainment, events and hospitality sector.
The government has justified the financial assistance on the basis that the arts and culture sector contributes approximately $10.9 billion to the New Zealand economy, making up about 3.4 percent of GDP.
Hospitality’s contribution is $6.8billion, plus an additional $14.6billion via purchases from supplier and staff spending.
In fact, MS White said, some of the arts and culture GDP contribution is made from performances and exhibitions held at hospitality venues.
“The nation’s hospitality providers, many of them venues for arts and culture, are just as worthy of financial assistance to “cushion the blow,” she said.
“The Government has been actively engaging with the hospitality sector to understand its needs as the pandemic has progressed and should now be responding by delivering much-needed financial relief.
“The Red traffic light setting, whilst needed to protect the health and safety of New Zealanders, has had an impact on the livelihoods of those who make a living out of hospitality.
“That’s why the Government should be committing to financial assistance again for any organisation which has lost money because of public health orders.”
“Ms White said her organisation was confident that renewed critical support schemes like the wage subsidy and resurgence payment for hospitality will provide some relief and help the sector’s wonderful communities of socialisation, entertainment and culture to get back on their feet.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
