Ecotourism NZ Conference 2007 Outcomes

Outlined below is a summary of each of the sessions held at the Ecotourism NZ Conference 1-3 August 2007.  Full presentations can be downloaded from the conference programme page on this web site. 

The Minister's session

Environmental management is:
– economically viable (yield) 
– environmentally sustainable 
– social and cultural values

Environmental and sustainable tourism

FOCUS of ACTIONS and Activities

 Eco-tourism
 sustainable tourism

• Sustainable Operations
• Sustainable Destinations
• Resource efficient itineraries

Global travel patterns and futures

• Travellers are aware about climate change – this is going to change the way people travel
• Local councils need to be involved more in tourism planning and how we deliver the 100% promise
• User pays model for infrastructure /services – do we have the right mechanisms in place?
• 100% Pure includes culture, people not just the environment
• All of New Zealand must be sustainable
• Tourism businesses need to know more about sustainable tourism
• Ministry web site www.tourism.govt.nz/sustainability

Staff
Often there is no incentive for staff training due to turnover
A major issue for tourism is staffing – maybe we need to look at co-sharing/partnerships

Communities
More discussion with communities and involve communities with tourism development

Standards and benchmarking

• Standards continually improve so too do expectations
• What is the ecotourism ‘product’ in NZ
• Various options Qualmark a New Zealand general standard, Greenglobe a specialist global standard, Ecotourism Australia location based ecotourism standard
• Use of accreditation process for quality improvement and marketing

Qualmark

• Operators need to promote Qualmark to visitors
• There are many accreditation programmes worldwide – there needs to be an escalator of programmes that allow for continuous improvement.
• New Qualmark ‘green’ to be “embedded” within existing programme.  New criteria to be released before year’s end!

 Operator Issues

• Get involved with the industry, conservation boards, territory local authorities (elections soon!!) networking, Awards
• Focus on education, appreciation and motivation
• Partnerships with other operators – join for economies of scale
• Partnerships for bookings, joint tours, sharing employees
• Greater use of the web, online activity is increasing and you need to know how to use it -  promotions, search, networking - blogging ….
• Operators want more discussion with DoC
• Operators are looking for more security in their business
• Concession changes bring lack of security and business risk
• Operators see themselves as protecting the conservation estate but Doc doesn’t
• Know your business yield

Concessions and land management

Overarching theme
Effective communication is essential to make the concession system work.

Key Issue
Concessions are managed but what about the management of FIT visitors?

 Potential solutions:

• Green tax on entry to NZ
• User pays /permits for national parks – annual pass available for NZers
• Peak season user charges
• DOC and concessionaires to sell benefits of going with a concessionaire vs freedom experiences to public and visitors
• Include “informal guiding” campervans etc in concessions system
• Education considered vital
• Better information about environmental responsibilities for internationals planning trip to NZ
• Enforcement strategies required

  Cultural tourism

• Defining the traditional and contemporary concept and practice of Kaitiakitanga – implications for sustainable management and tourism
• Change over time – shift from customary use through to recreation and tourism.
• Sustainable use vs Conserve and protect – a lack of communication between  DOC and Maori.
• Succession planning – cadets and staff.
• Balance – ensuring cultural integrity while tailoring interpretation to target audience.
• NOT commercialising culture  BUT culturising our commerce

Maori – pakeha businesses can work

• shared values
• time
• care
• mentoring
• trust and communication

Maintaining Integrity – stakeholder / project planning

Eco-cultural tourism   (ec(h)o-tourism !  )

Content of the conference feedback

• We have not covered the marine aspect (see http://nztri.aut.ac.nz/cmt2007/pages/)
• More time finding solutions to issues
• Look more into carbon emission (incl carbon neutral conference!)
• Circulate workshop questions before the conference
• “Futures” thinking

 Next steps

• Planeta.com ecotourism challenges in New Zealand and Australia forum
• Posting of presentations on www.ecotourismnz.com
• Report on conference outcomes
• Discussion board to be introduced on www.ecotourismnz.com to follow up on issues raised at the conference
• Next conference August 2008