Dunedin city councillors voted to approve an amended Tourism Dunedin trust deed at a meeting of the council's economic development committee earlier this week.
However, the deed's wording was changed after some councillors - tasked with approving the appointment of all trustees - expressed concerns one of the new clauses would block qualified tourism operators from contributing to the tourism body.
A clause originally to be included in the amended deed stated those who gained their primary source of income from working as a tourism operator "should not be eligible for appointment as a trustee".
Cr Kate Wilson was among those to argue the clause was "too black and white", when the focus should be on the attributes of individual candidates.
"I think we actually want some operators on there [Tourism Dunedin].
"I want the best applicants to apply for this job and know they can manage that situation," she said.
Following the debate, councillors voted in favour of changing the wording to emphasise tourism operators should be ineligible only when there was likely to be a perceived conflict of interest.
Council chief executive Jim Harland, speaking at Tuesday's committee meeting, said the new wording would allow councillors to exercise their judgement.
Committee chairman Cr John Bezett had argued the original wording was acceptable and common sense would prevail when councillors assessed applicants.
However, Cr Bill Acklin believed the key word in the original clause - "should" - would in practice mean "must", and tourism operators would be prohibited.
The vote to change the wording was subject to final approval at the next full council meeting on August 17.
