There's a few things about tourism.
1. Even if the borders were open and we had the same sort of covid restrictions that they have overseas tourist numbers would be well down on normal and they'll struggle.
2. About as many kiwis go overseas as foreigners come here so closed borders means more domestic money goes into tourism (a lot of tourism businesses are doing well and the great walks sold out in a record time). It would be interesting to know how a reduction in income from open borders (with reduced international travel demand and added domestic covid restrictions) compares to the reduction in income from closing borders but having local tourists and more freedoms. I'd imagine it's not as cut and dry as you think.
3. Tourism, as it has been run, is unsustainable, unless airlines find some sort of scalable green technology, tourism companies were going to have to change the way they operate anyway. This is a good opportunity to use government funding to re-structure the industry.
1. Even if the borders were open and we had the same sort of covid restrictions that they have overseas tourist numbers would be well down on normal and they'll struggle.
2. About as many kiwis go overseas as foreigners come here so closed borders means more domestic money goes into tourism (a lot of tourism businesses are doing well and the great walks sold out in a record time). It would be interesting to know how a reduction in income from open borders (with reduced international travel demand and added domestic covid restrictions) compares to the reduction in income from closing borders but having local tourists and more freedoms. I'd imagine it's not as cut and dry as you think.
3. Tourism, as it has been run, is unsustainable, unless airlines find some sort of scalable green technology, tourism companies were going to have to change the way they operate anyway. This is a good opportunity to use government funding to re-structure the industry.