13 Nov 2011

More public holidays seen as boost for tourism

5:38 am on 13 November 2011

The Tourism Industry Association sees more public holidays as a way to help boost the domestic tourism market.

Domestic tourism makes up more than half of the industry's income and the association says a single public holiday can bring in about $70 - $80 million.

Chief executive Tim Cossar says there were two fewer public holdidays than normal this year because both Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day fell on a weekend.

Mr Cossar says the law should be changed when that happens so the following Monday is declared a public holiday as well.

But the Employers & Manufacturers Association says while holidays are good for tourism, they come at the expense of other sectors of the economy.