TIA welcomes experience rating

16 July 2010

Tourism businesses will benefit from the decision to recognise individual workplace safety and injury management in their ACC levies, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) says.

“Depending on the size of the business, the introduction of discounts based on claims history could see some tourism operators, especially those in the adventure and outdoor sector, saving thousands of dollars a year,” TIA Policy Manager Simon Wallace says.

On behalf of members, TIA has been in discussions with ACC officials for several months on the issue of increasing levies and is delighted that experience ratings are being introduced more broadly.

“We have advocated strongly that tourism businesses which have put investment and effort into making their operations safer for staff and visitors, and for establishing good return-to-work programmes, should be rewarded by ACC.  This announcement will have the added benefit of providing an incentive for all tourism businesses to improve their safety practices and return to work programmes,” Mr Wallace says.

The announcement was particularly welcome at a time when tourism operators are facing increasing costs, from the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the increase in GST, he says.

TIA will continue working with ACC on the detail of the experience rating programme as it applies to tourism businesses prior to its introduction on 1 April 2011.

For further information, please contact:

Ann-Marie Johnson
Communications Manager
Tourism Industry Association (TIA)
DDI: 04 496 5001                                                                                        
Mobile: 027 600 4565                                                                                                                   
Email: ann-marie.johnson@tianz.org.nz

www.tianz.org.nz