New Zealanders wary of impact of tourism
January 18, 2018
The survey, commissioned by New Zealand's tourism industry, found that 40 percent of those asked were worried about the impact of tourism on the infrastructure.
Fears about the environment and traffic congestion were also foremost in people's minds, Tourism New Zealand's Chief Executive Stephen England-Hall said Thursday.
Local media frequently report about problems with so-called freedom campers, who use nature as toilets, leave rubbish in pristine environments and contribute to the overcrowding of holiday spots.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult told Radio New Zealand he was getting complaints almost every day from fed up locals. He said that the main problems with freedom campers are "crowding into spaces which some of our locals regard as areas for them to have their recreation in, and people treating our outdoor areas as a giant toilet."
However, the majority of Kiwis see tourism in a positive light, with more than 90 percent of respondents saying international tourism is good for the country. Eighty-seven percent said they took personal pride in making international visitors welcome in New Zealand.
is/ch (dpa)