Global sailing race stopover promises economic boost for New Zealand
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E-mail Xinhua, January 29, 2013
New Zealand's marine industry can expect a boost when the country's biggest city hosts stopovers for one of the major around-the-world yacht races in 2015 and 2018, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said Tuesday.
The government's Major Events Development Fund would invest 1.5 million NZ dollars (1.25 million U.S. dollars) on each of the two Volvo Ocean Race Auckland stopovers to assist with event delivery and to leverage "a broad range of immediate and longer-term benefits from the stopovers," Joyce said in a statement.
"These events provide a platform to leverage benefits for New Zealand, particularly for New Zealand's marine sector. The marine industry has 1.7 billion NZ dollars in annual turnover, produces 650 million NZ dollars in exports each year and employs 9,000 full time staff. The Volvo Ocean Race stopovers provide a great opportunity to showcase this sector's expertise internationally," Joyce said.
"Economic impact figures show that the 2015 and 2018 stopovers will provide a GDP impact to New Zealand of approximately 7.4 million NZ dollars respectively and attract 1,880 international visitors each year."
The government invested 1.5 million NZ dollars in the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race Auckland stopover and the new investment would build on the benefits generated by the 2012 event.
"The economic impact figures for the 2012 stopover showed it generated an additional 6.3 million NZ dollars to New Zealand's GDP and attracted 1,681 international visitors," Joyce said.
"Around 275,000 spectators visited the race village in 2012. Exhibitors in an associated New Zealand Marine Showcase noted crucial relationships and sales leads were formed with international clients, including race syndicates, during the stopover."
The Volvo Ocean Race, held every three years, spans a nine- month period, which includes several stopovers at international ports to allow for boat maintenance and rest time for the crews.
It was anticipated that Auckland would host 15-day stopovers in early 2015 and 2018, he said.
Auckland City Council's Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) announced it would also invest 5.5 million NZ dollars from its Major Events Fund into hosting the two races.
"This is an exciting win for Auckland. New Zealand's fabled sailing heritage, and the affinity Aucklanders have with the sea which surrounds us, makes this city the perfect Volvo Ocean Race destination," Auckland Mayor Len Brown said in a statement. Endi
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