6. Question No. 6—TourismHon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) to the Minister of TourismQuestion No. 6—Tourism6. Hon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) to the Minister of Tourism: Does he stand by all his statements made yesterday regarding the tourism recovery package and travel agents?Hon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Tourism): I stand by my statements but acknowledge the tone I used has caused concern amongst the industry. I acknowledge that New Zealanders working in outbound tourism are struggling as a result of COVID19 and are doing their best to secure refunds for their customers. I also acknowledge that Kiwis working in the industry are stressed and doing their best in these uncertain times. Minister Faafoi and I have asked our officials to engage with the outbound tourism sector. We understand New Zealanders are still awaiting refunds and that agents are working through that process. We need to better understand the challenges travel agents are facing in regards to refunding customers before making decisions around Government support.Hon Todd McClay: Does he stand by his answer yesterday that the reason travel agents did not receive any Government support is that they didn't apply they asked for too much or they're luring New Zealanders overseas and if not will he apologise to them?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: The question the member asked me was very clear: why AJ Hackett got Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme funding and outbound tourism operators did not. I stand by the answer I provided the member yesterday. Hon Todd McClay: On behalf of all of the travel agents in New Zealand who are about to lose their jobs or businesses when the Government's wage subsidy expires will he offer them an apology in the House today for the upset and concern he caused them yesterday as a result of his ill-chosen comments?Hon KELVIN DAVIS: I've already said that my tone could be better and as I've also said Minister Faafoi and I have asked officials to engage with the sector. I expect they'll come back with more information regarding the current and future state of outbound tour operators.Hon Todd McClay: Is he aware that travel agents are trying to process an estimated $2 billion of refunds from 150 countries for cancelled trips of New Zealanders and that this money could be spent on domestic tourism meaning more support for the tourism sector; and when is he going to—SPEAKER: Order! Answer the first two or either of them.Hon KELVIN DAVIS: My job as the Minister of Tourism is to grow our tourism industry and as a response to COVID-19 get New Zealanders taking full advantage of the domestic tourism we have here at home. That will help our New Zealand tourism businesses get through the effects of COVID-19. Their livelihood their businesses and the contribution tourism makes for New Zealanders are my priority. I acknowledge the role that outbound tourism operators have played and the effects they are feeling from the closure of borders because of COVID-19. That is why the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and I have asked for options and advice on the situation.Hon Todd McClay: Since he won't take the opportunity to apologise to the sector will he make support available from the $400 million allocated to the tourism sector in Budget 2020 to travel agents or have all of these funds been committed leaving agents and their employees to fend for themselves? Hon KELVIN DAVIS: The fund has been totally allocated: $21 million has gone to Māori tourism supporting 18 Māori tourism businesses; $20.2 million has gone to regional tourism organisations; $25 million has gone to concessions; $50 million has gone to events so that we can grow the number of events around in the regions and get New Zealanders visiting more regions; $10 million has gone to digital support for tourism businesses; $20 million has gone to the inbound tour operator loan scheme; and $311 million has gone to over 120 strategic tourism assets to make sure that when the borders do reopen we have a tourism industry for people to visit.