John Key to become tourism minister

So it looks like i'll be one of the first affected by the change of government. Currently govt spends around $65mil on Marketing NZ to the world, peanuts considering the industry is worth around $7bil in exports per year (a fair ROI eh!)

So, my question is... will he spend more on international tourism marketing... or less? It does seem a good sign that the new PM is picking up the tourism portfolio, not sure if its because of the ease of the portfolio or not - the tourism indutry doesn't bitch about everything like some other industries, we just get on with it...

Thoughts? (rational, please)

If John Key is really smart he'll offer the post of foreign affairs - outside of cabinet - to Helen

there is a precedent

Did you even read the OP?

Would be good if John offered Helen a position. All that experience/contacts helen has would be invauable.

Dunno if tourism's gonna show very good returns anymore, hasn't it been hit by the downturn already? Next year will be dead

yep and our foreign minister is our face abroad

bear in mind that we face uncertain times tourist-wise what with all the carbon footprint greeny vibes agin tourism and since our lucrative markets lie in north america and europe putting our case across calls for expertise; I think we all agree that she was a most excellent fm when she held the post and is a well recognised face

would you rather have McCully?

Even if the Nats made Helen foreign minster and she agreed (which all seems highly unlikely), she still might have a difficult time catching the "Green" tourist if the Nats significantly backtrack on environmental issues.
I think NZ is now likely to enter an "agree and ignore" situation on issues like climate change (similar to Canada) which could hurt areas like tourism.

I think this is good news - a PM overseeing our top forex earner is a real positive for me.

17 Jun 2009 - John Key makes country $100bn hedging all foreign tourism revenue...

or , can't decide... Wait until February and see what the guy's really like I suppose!

Helen Clark unfortunately doesn't know too much about 100% Pure, Pure New Zealand, or New Zealand New Thinking.

hmmmm ...

I'd rather have winston than McCully.

Running the country isn't a branding exercise, you half-wit.

I think the country's leader being aware of our tourism and trade and enterprise branding is important.

I am very happy with the election outcome - guess you're not so

The only thing I am concerned about is the five ACT seats. However there's more of a chance that the ETS will be thought out with more care now.

most likely, neither does anyone outside of your industry, or the tourism industry.

PM's job is to run the country in a manner that allows for tourism to flourish. Not to know the ins and outs of what ever the latest marketing wanker brainchild scheme is.

Because of ACT? Surely not? They still outright deny climate change, want to not only scrap the ETS but withdraw us from Kyoto.

National themselves might slow it down, yes. Which is just great, our tax bill will have to go WAY up in three years time for taxpayers to pay for our Kyoto obligations, rather than the polluters paying and therefore actively reducing it.