23 August 2004 Media Statement

Another series of Business Class

The tourism sector's own TV show, Business Class, will return to TV3 in September.

Business Class is a weekly 30-minute magazine programme providing small and medium sized tourism businesses with strategic information and operational advice.
Minister of Tourism, Mark Burton announced this second series of Business Class to industry representatives in Taupo for the New Zealand Tourism Conference this week.

"Research conducted after series one showed that Business Class was a valuable tool for small and medium sized tourism businesses and another step in the right direction in terms of recognising and raising the profile of the tourism industry.”

As with the first series, this second series will continue to focus on capability building within the tourism industry as well as complementing business resources already available through the Ministry of Tourism’s core tourism data set and the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise BizInfo service.

"Indepth interviews with a sample group of tourism operators indicated that Business Class had been well received" Mr Burton said.

”Television is an ideal medium for reaching this target audience and delivering the kind of up-to-date information they need in an interesting, accessible way. In addition, Business Class gives the wider viewing audience an insight on what’s happening in New Zealand’s tourism sector”.

New Zealand's tourism sector comprises between 13,500 – 18,000 small and medium sized businesses. Currently, operators are able to access information and advice from a number of agencies and organisations. Many, however, are unaware of these sources; particularly those who are may be new to the industry or who have entered tourism for lifestyle reasons. They may therefore have a limited knowledge and understanding of the industry’s current operating environment or of quality business practice.

Business Class will screen on Sundays at 12:30pm on TV3 beginning September 19.

ENDS

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