Brook Sabin is a travel reporter at Stuff and previously worked at the Press Gallery.
OPINION: The great tourism reset is a 100% pure failure and a huge waste of money.
After Covid closed the borders, the country had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-emerge on the global stage as a premium destination, where sustainability was paramount. Now that the borders are open again, the reset looks like a repaint. Apparently change is still comingbut I fear it only leads to tinkering rather than transformation.
Let’s summarize. At the beginning of the pandemic, the government promised a sweeping rethink of the way New Zealand tourism functioned after growing frustration over overpopulation and sustainability issues. Then Minister of Tourism Kelvin Davis said we have an “opportunity to rethink the whole way we approach tourism…”
A task force was set up and allocated $755,000. It resulted in an interim report – frankly pointing to the obvious. The final report never came out because new Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash put an end to it – let’s hope his decision got some of the money back.
iStock
A tourist bus in New Zealand on its way from Milford Sound to Te Anau.
Nash is considerably more adept at tourism than his predecessor, but we have yet to see any groundbreaking ideas actually take effect. And meanwhile, the tourist train is steaming full on its way to a well-known destination: business as usual.
If the government was serious about a reset, here’s what it should already be.
1) Compulsory travel insurance
One of the easiest ways to kill a few low-quality tourists is to mandate travel insurance. Popular tourist destinations such as Fiji, Chile and Israel already have travel insurance and require proof of travel insurance before entering the country.
Before Covid-19, New Zealand already had a problem with foreigners not paying hospital bills. An estimated $630 million was not recovered from “ineligible” patients between the years 2000 and 2010.
This policy would also ensure that tourists who end up in hospitals due to Covid do not do so at the expense of New Zealand.
ROBERT KITCHEN/Things
Secretary of Tourism Stuart Nash.
2) Make tourists pay to access national parks
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on earth and any quality tourist would have no problem paying a fee to access our premium scenery. If you don’t like doing that, we don’t want you here.
Since 2019, tourists must International tourist tax and tourist tax of $35 – which contributes to a number of initiatives. But those who want access to places like Milford Soundor Tongariro National Parkmust pay immediately.
A modest fee of, say, $20 is a bargain to see Milford Sound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just like visitors pay to enter Yosemite National Park in the US, Machu Picchu in Peru or Uluru in Australia.
Nash has pondered over charging for accessbut nothing concrete has emerged.
The same goes for our network of Great Rides. Foreign tourists have to pay a small fee to access places like the Lake Dunstan trail. A $20 allowance for a day of world-class cycling? Seems like a bargain to me.
3) Limit numbers to iconic site
Murray Wilson
Chaos on the Tongariro Crossing access roads during the summer of 2016/17 prompted DoC to impose a four-hour parking restriction to force hikers to take a park-and-ride shuttle.
In addition to charging foreign tourists, visits to places like Milford Sound and Tongariro National Park (particularly the Tongariro Crossing) should be limited.
Before Covid-19, one million people were expected to visit Milford Sound in 2020 – it’s way too much.
Similarly, the Tongariro Crossing saw the number of walkers increase by 450% between 1992 and 2016, with some visitors complaining about overcrowding.
4) Let tourists take a driving test
In recent years of Covid closures, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to drive on the road with tourists. While many are responsible, some take to the road without understanding the rules.
Visitors must first pass an online theory test that they can take at home before they are allowed to drive on our roads.
5) Deport dirty tourists
I made my first trip to Milford Sound in 2019.
I saw Jurassic peaks soaring into the sky, ice-carved fjords, primeval forests, rare penguins and tourist turds.
And what made it worse was that these turds were right next to a public restroom.
Shortly after getting the job, Nash indicated he wanted to be banned tourists from renting vans without independent toilets.
The final proposal was watered down and will ban vans without independent toilets from staying on council land, along with increased penalties. It’s hardly a game changer.
This is what would be: deporting dirty tourists.
In Singapore you will be fined for litter. Even if you leave the toilet unflushed in a public place, you will be fined $150.
It’s time to send a similar message: New Zealand is immensely proud of our country. And only those who share that pride and treat our country with respect are welcome. And if you desecrate our national treasures, you’ll be kicked out – and you’re no longer welcome.
What do you think of the tourism reset so far? Let us know in the comments below.