New Zealand is launching a new initiative to improve the competitiveness and environmental performance of its tourism businesses by reducing energy consumption.
The effort–headed up by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)–will give small and medium sized tourism operators in Wellington and Auckland free energy assessments by an EcoSmart electrician and a subsidy to install the assessment’s recommendations.
Tourism contributes more than 9% of gross domestic product (GDP) for
New Zealand, reaching $21.7 billion for the year ended March 2009. The
industry directly and indirectly employs nearly one in ten New
Zealanders with full-time equivalent jobs, and 80% of the industry is
managed by small- to medium-sized businesses.
TIA Chief Executive Tim Cossar says most businesses can cut 20% off their energy costs–sometimes far more–with smarter energy use, and many of the measures they can implement come at little or no cost.
“Running an energy efficient business can also give tourism operators the edge over their competitors and position them as responsible operators, particularly important as New Zealand gears up for an influx of international visitors for Rugby World Cup 2011.
“Later in the year we will also offer subsidies for members to undertake driver training through the New Zealand Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving program. These sorts of driver training programmes can result in fuel savings of up to 10%.”
Mike Underhill, Chief Executive of EECA says, “There is so much potential for businesses to improve their profitability through better energy management – we estimate as much as $2 billion worth of energy is wasted by the New Zealand business sector each year.
“As well as benefitting the individual businesses, there’s also a national benefit when our tourism operators can show they are committed to the ‘100% Pure’ brand, and good energy management is a real tangible way to show that commitment.”
“New Zealand’s environment is our main tourism product. It is the primary reason that international visitors come here, it is important for domestic travellers and it underpins the visitor offering for thousands of tourism businesses.
The free energy audits are an extension of an audit program completed in 2008 and 2009 for 25 tourism businesses around the country and a fuel efficiency stocktake of tourist flight operators that identified ways to reduce fuel consumption and improve profit margins.
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