Tourism...

From reading the news, it seems that the mainstream Kiwis are looking to tourism as a silver bullet to fill some financial holes, while I was surprised that Covid didn't spark more chatter about the long-term viability of tourism.

I was too lazy for Year 13 Maths, but it strikes me that the climate cost of European and Asian tourists traveling here must be astonishingly high, and I wonder if those are factored into the sector's emissions profile.

Those carbon-free planes that Air NZ are developing are great, but by 2030 they (might) be being used for domestic flights. I think a tourism-centric future is basically incompatible with reducing emissions.

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I have an alternate policy, which is to invest tourism money into the arts sector, including increased ticket subsidies.

With some gumption and flukes, it might even become (god forbid) profitable.

Then the rest of the tourism money should be focused on digital exports and emerging cyber-tourism, and climate resilience for the great walks and famous landmarks etc.

So, that's a stoner thought for the day.