Two new Great Walks part of a $178m Government boost for tourism

Thursday, 11 May 2017

The Tourism Infrastructure Fund will help councils and other organisations build things like toilets and car parks.

Two new Great Walks are part of a Government pledge to pour $178m into tourism infrastructure and the conservation estate.

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Conservation Minister Maggie Barry jointly announced the establishment of a $102m tourism infrastructure fund, alongside an extra $76m for the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says the tourism industry has made it clear infrastructure was a top priority.

Barry said the money would help DOC better manage visitor growth in places like the Tongariro Crossing which attracted 125,000 people last year, 60 per cent of them from overseas.

She said the expansion of the Great Walks network, with two new Great Walks, and the development of day and shorter walks, would help take the pressure off popular natural attractions such as the Tongariro Crossing.

* Councils estimate $1.4b bill for urgent tourism infrastructure**

Barry said it had not yet been decided where the two new Great Walks would go.

'We're going to do a really good job to ensure they're in the right place, there's a lot of conversations to be had yet …then we have to do a business plan'.

There is also $3.4m for upgrading the Pouakai Crossing, a major day walk in Taranaki, and almost $20m for tourist facilities at Punakaiki, Whakapapa and Waipoua Forest.

She said car parks, toilets and roads were not 'at the glamour end of the visit but they can sure make a difference to someone's trip in the adverse sense'.

Barry said $11.4m was earmarked for improving DOC's online services and the introduction of an online booking system which should be ready by next year.

It would allow for the introduction of a differential charging system for overseas visitors using DOC huts, she said.

'It's a tricky one we don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg, we don't want visitors to ever feel unwelcome'.

Stewart Barclay, who runs guided walks on the Tongariro Crossing, hailed the funding boost and new walks as 'fantastic news' and said there was an opportunity to improve the road into the Crossing.

'The current situation is that there are complaints of overcrowding and limited parking space. This is a big budget investment that can help resolve the congestion at the Tongariro walks'.

Forest & Bird's advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell is less impressed and raised concerns the new walks would lead to price increases for New Zealanders who would compete with tourists for access.

'Of particular concern is the idea to work with private partners to co-fund these Great Walks'.

'This is a significant step towards privatising the conservation estate. Essentially, it's the unpopular charter school model, brought to conservation', said Hackwell.

Speaking at the country's largest tourism trade show on Thursday Bennett said $60.5m of the tourism fund would be new money from this year's Budget, while the remainder was a reallocation of money from other tourism funds.

She said that over the next four years it would help provide infrastructure such as toilets, car parks, freedom camping facilities, sewerage and water systems.

The fund is open to councils, but in some instances community organisations may apply with council backing.

Bennett said tourism spending hit $14.5 billion last year, so it was 'hugely important' to the economy and the quality of visitor experiences needed to be maintained.

'The industry has clearly told us that infrastructure is their top priority and we've responded to that'.

Bennett said the focus would be on areas with high visitor numbers but small ratepayer bases, and local government still had the lead role to play in building and maintaining the necessary infrastructure.

The criteria for obtaining funding are tight and an independent panel including tourism industry representation will allocate the money.

Applicants must be 'financially constrained'. They will have to show value for money, be prepared to contribute financially, and prove other funding was not possible.

However, Bennett said they would take a flexible approach to co-funding arrangements. 'We may even pay 100 per cent in exceptional cases'.

Infrastructure had to be used by visitors, and in the case of sewage and water supply systems, would cover the tourism related portion only.

The fund will not cover commercial or semi-commercial facilities, or those already receiving government funding, such as cycle trails.