9. Tourism—Tourism Growth Partnership and Infrastructure InvestmentSCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Minister of TourismTourism—Tourism Growth Partnership and Infrastructure Investment9. SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel) to the Minister of Tourism: What announcements has the Government made about supporting tourism in regional New Zealand?Ron Mark: Who cares?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Associate Minister of Tourism) on behalf of the Minister of Tourism: Well actually the people in the regions care Mr Mark. This week the Government announced even more support for tourism growth and infrastructure in regional New Zealand. The Prime Minister announced this week that two new exciting regional projects that will attract more international visitors are receiving funding from the Tourism Growth Partnership (TGP). They are a new international astronomy centre in Lake Tekapō which is a partnership with Ngāi Tahu and a suite of luxury glass cabins at remote locations throughout New Zealand. Since 2013 the TGP has awarded $21.2 million to 29 projects.Tracey Martin: Got any toilets?Hon PAULA BENNETT: There are toilets coming.Scott Simpson: What kinds of infrastructure projects have received funding?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Fourteen tourism infrastructure projects have also received funding in the first round of the new Regional Mid-sized Tourism Facilities Grant Fund which is designed to help smaller communities respond to increasing visitor numbers. A range of projects has been funded including a lot of new toilet facilities the House will be pleased to know and the member who asked the question will be particularly interested in innovative rubbish removal compactors that we are funding in the Coromandel. Many of the facilities will be up and running this summer.David Clendon: How many applications to the regional mid-sized facilities fund did not receive any funding in this year's round?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Of those that were eligible 11 did not.David Clendon: What was the shortfall in this funding round between the total amount of financial assistance requested or asked for by regions and the amount of funding that the Government distributed?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I am sorry; I do not have that number exactly to hand. If it helps the member we are looking at doing a new round earlier next year and looking at whether or not we can bring funding forward and what we can do.Scott Simpson: How will this funding help the tourism sector grow in areas such as the beautiful Coromandel?Hon PAULA BENNETT: International tourists spent $14.5 billion in New Zealand in the last year and the industry employs more than 188000 people. To maintain the growth we need to ensure visitors have a high-quality experience and see as many regions of New Zealand including the beautiful Coromandel as possible. This Government is committed to providing funding to ensure we continue to provide new and innovative things to attract new international visitors and ensure that their experience is of a high quality.David Clendon: Given the $97 million shortfall between what the industry estimates is required for tourism infrastructure and the amount that this Government appears willing to spend will the Minister now adopt the Green Party's proposal for a border levy which would generate up to $20 million a year available for tourism infrastructure?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I have made it clear that we are interested in looking at options. Certainly at the moment we are expecting the McKinsey & Company report I think before Christmas where we have had businesses—including led by the chief executive of Air New Zealand Christopher Luxon and what some of those options might be around levies and funding. I do think that in the first round of this mid-size facilities grant I actually expected more applications and more spend so I think we do need to make sure that we are putting the infrastructure in to ensure those high-quality experiences. There is a range of options for how we might fund that in the future.