9. Tourism—Regional Growth and Infrastructure InvestmentTODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland) to the Minister of TourismTourism—Regional Growth and Infrastructure Investment9. TODD BARCLAY (National—Clutha-Southland) to the Minister of Tourism: What announcements has the Government made on its commitment to supporting tourism in the regions?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Associate Minister of Tourism) on behalf of the Minister of Tourism: The Government is committed to ensuring that regional tourism benefits from the fantastic growth that we are seeing in the sector. Last week it announced that it had ring-fenced half of its $8 million Tourism Growth Partnership fund exclusively for projects in the regions that will both help grow jobs and attract new visitors. It also announced that applications are now open for our $12 million Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund which communities can apply for if they need funding help for infrastructure due to visitors. Todd Barclay: How will the changes to the Tourism Growth Partnership help build tourism businesses in the regions?Hon PAULA BENNETT: It is often harder for regional businesses to attract investment to get started. The changes we have made will give people in the regions more opportunity to turn a great idea into a business reality. Those who want to start a new regional tourism venture can apply to the fund. I really encourage them to go to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) website where there are more details on how that is structured and where they can get their application forms. David Clendon: Does the Minister agree with Mr Warrick Low of Venture Southland that a border levy to pay for regional tourism infrastructure would not discourage people from coming to this country; or does he agree with Maggie Barry's comment that a border levy would be a big deterrent" to tourism?Hon PAULA BENNETT: It will be really interesting to see the applications that we get for the Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund—and I think that is going to give us a real indication of what is happening locally. Some people think we will not get many others say we are going to be well oversubscribed—so I think that is going to give us a really good indication. In response to the member's absolute question other countries have tourism levies as such. I do not think it has really affected their tourism numbers but it is something that needs to be investigated from all avenues and I think that is what is happening at the moment.David Clendon: Does the Minister believe that $7 million a year is sufficient help for small regions struggling to pay for much-needed tourism infrastructure or would the $20 million that the Green Party's Taonga Levy would raise each year serve that need much better?Hon PAULA BENNETT: As I said we have now opened applications. It will be really interesting to see what comes in and as I say we do not really know. We are hearing different stories about what the need will be. We have got a massive increase now but the forecast of more visitors coming means that that will continue to have an effect not just on smaller towns that are struggling with their infrastructure but equally on our Department of Conservation estate which I know is something that the members have raised as well. We will be interested in seeing that work that is coming through from the private sector and will be looking at it with an open mind.Fletcher Tabuteau: How will Franz Josef—which has only 400 permanent residents but 10 times that number of tourists on any given night—afford to replace its waste-water treatment plant costing $6.5 million given it is one town of many contesting that $12 million fund?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I am fully aware of the issues that are going on in Franz Josef and there is actually work going on at the moment from a range of officials and a range of agencies looking at what can be done. They do have I think quite a unique challenge not just with the size of their ratepayer base but equally with their location—where they are—and some of the effects that they are seeing. We will be talking to them and making sure that we can help with an outcome.Todd Barclay: How do the changes outlined earlier in this question complement the Government's wider regional economic development work?Hon PAULA BENNETT: What is really important to Tourism New Zealand and equally to this Government is that we see the regions benefit from that increase in tourist numbers coming to New Zealand. We know that there is every opportunity for them to travel more extensively than just through the three hot spots of Auckland Rotorua and Queenstown. We have seen an increase in each region—as far as the number of visitors—and more importantly in the financial benefits and economic benefits that they are getting. We have completed regional growth studies through the work that has been going on in MBIE and we really see this as complementing that."