5 Oct 2008

Call for major NZ convention facility

8:11 am on 5 October 2008

The tourism industry says New Zealand needs a high end convention facility that could host up to 3,000 people.

The chief executive of the Tourism Industry Association, Tim Cossar, says it would boost the industry and the wider economy.

He says the centre would ideally be built in Auckland, at a cost of up to $350 million, with the Government as a major investor.

Mr Cossar says New Zealand is losing out to most Australian cities, because conventions of up to 1,500 people are the largest that can be hosted at the moment.

Figures show more than $250 million a year flows into the economy from international conference attendees, who spend about five times the daily amount of other tourists.