Tourism
Invasion
Recent reading was a back issue of Geographical
Magazine (August 2017). A column about visitor numbers putting a strain on
Iceland caught my eye.
As with New Zealand, it is natural wonders that
attract visitors to Iceland.
Also similar to New Zealand is Iceland’s out-of-the
way location, just south of the Arctic Circle in Iceland’s case. Despite their location, the respective
countries boast a booming tourism industry.
Iceland’s record 2.4 million tourists are taking a
toll on the small country’s cultural and protected landmarks. Iceland embraced
tourism following the crippling depression of 2008. Tourism served its purpose
economically. But as more natural landmarks make the ``red list of endangered
sites’’ locals are becoming wary of visitor’s disregard to protective fencing
and forbidden off-road driving.
Visitor numbers have increased 1000 per cent over 20
years. Visitors regularly outnumber Iceland’s meagre population of 340,000.
Iceland’s land area is 103,000 km sq. New Zealand is 268,000 km sq.
Lucrative holiday rentals in larger centres are
pricing Icelanders out of their own homes.
Inadequate public transport, railways in particular, is
adding to Iceland’s woes. A solution is to increase tax on tourist ventures
from the present 11 per cent to 21 per cent.
Another innovation is to attract visitors to
previously less popular locations.
I see similar problems rising in New Zealand where
tourism has taken over from agriculture (particularly dairying) as the number
one industry. The numbers are impressive.
Above Christchurch. Gondola attraction
Arrivals, almost 4 million, are worth $14.5b to the
economy. Tourism employs 230,799 people, representing 8.4 per cent of the
workforce. Mo st visitors are from Australia followed by China. New Zealand
tourism forecasts 4.9 million arrivals by 2023.
No wonder businesses involved in tourism are feeling
buoyant.
But can our environment endure the stress of sheer
numbers? Last year I wanted to visit Tekapo at the time of the lupin bloom.
Accommodation costs (cheapest $400 per night) put paid to the trip. I felt we
New Zealanders are being forced from enjoying our own country.
Sealy tarn. Aoraki-Mt Cook NP.
Several media stories have been about the strain
tourism is having on Tekapo’s famous Church of the Good shepherd. Visitors
disregard church services and use the surrounds as an impromptu toilet.
Nearby at Mount Cook, last summer a normally quiet
camping ground, was bursting at its seams.
As with Iceland, holiday rentals are forcing locals
away. At Queenstown much of the necessary workforce cannot afford to live in
the lakeside town. They are forced to live a considerable distance away.
TSS Earnslaw. Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown
Yet, we hear little about solutions or even concerns
for the environment. From a business point of view, when the environment is compromised
there will be little reason for a tourism industry. People will go elsewhere.
The challenge is in striking a balance and to know when enough is becoming too
many.
A tax on Tourists is forever in the discussion phase.
We are privileged to live in New Zealand’s exceptional
environment. Just a matter of keeping it that way.
