The New Zealand taxpayer has generously provided corporate welfare of $200,000 to an American production crew that filmed the dating show in New Zealand earlier this year.
At the time, Tourism NZ CEO George Hickton qualified the "investment" by reporting an increase in web traffic on nz.com and anecdotal evidence of NZ tourism operators receiving phone calls from Americans wanting to make bookings after watching the final show on TV.
Apparently, Tourism NZ "never anticipated on getting such a great return." I guess we can be thankful that TNZ are willing to take a punt with our money!
This begs some questions:
Was the payment of $200,000 to an American production company necessary?
Would the production crew have come to NZ anyway if no payment was made?
What other similar payments have been made by TNZ?
And how are the economic return on these speculative "investments" qualified?
Jason Mesnick
13 July 2009
www.voxy.co.nz
The tourism industry is getting behind a promotion to help find New Zealand's own Bachelor, as the hit reality show heats up television screens around the country this month.
Kiwis will have their first chance to see New Zealand capture the heart of bachelor Jason Mesnick when the first of two episodes filmed in New Zealand airs here on TV2 at 8.30pm on Friday 17 July.
To celebrate, Tourism New Zealand is joining forces with radio station ZM and TV2 to give Kiwis the chance to experience a little romance for themselves.
One lucky couple will have the opportunity to win the same romantic date that Jason had in Queenstown. The ZM promotion starts this Friday 10 July.
Tourism New Zealand and ZM are also calling for all Kiwi bachelors to apply now to be the show's next star.
Source: Click HERE
