Auckland's tourism industry hampered by sub-par public transport: surveys

Monday, 21 October 2019

Sydney truths for public transport in Auckland.

Insufficient public transport is among the most pressing challenges facing Auckland's tourism industry, multiple studies have found.

Tourism operators, residents and domestic visitors all ranked improving public transport as the best strategy for making the region a more attractive tourist destination, according to a report published by Auckland Tourism, Events, and Economic Development (ATEED).

Concerns about the pressure tourism was putting on local transport infrastructure were also frequently raised in a survey of Waiheke Island residents.

Auckland Transport is pushing for more people to catch public transport around Waiheke Island (file photo).

About 2.6 million international tourists visit Auckland annually and visitor numbers are expected to rise during the next few years, putting more pressure on infrastructure.

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A perceived lack of good transport options has been identified as a threat to Auckland's tourism industry in multiple surveys and reports.

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By 2023, the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment estimates between 3.6 million and four million international tourists will arrive in the city each year.

A report on sustainable tourism by Queensland's Griffith Institute for Tourism said rapid visitor growth and limited investment by central government into Auckland's infrastructure 'has led to mounting resident dissatisfaction and tangible negative impacts'.

According to Auckland Transport's (AT's) journey planner app, it would take about 50 to 65 minutes to get from Auckland Zoo in Western Springs to Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium in Orakei on public transport. The 11km trip requires people to transfer between two to three buses.

Travelling between tourist attractions a similar distance apart in Sydney – Darling Harbour and Taronga Zoo – would take just 40 minutes on a direct bus.

ATEED's destination general manager Steve Armitage said it was working with other organisations in the industry to improve connectivity in and around the city and make public transport more effective.

Auckland Transport said the $60 million bus and rail interchange at Puhinui train station would make getting to and from the airport easier once it opened in early 2021.

The Airport to Botany Rapid Transit project will eventually link the interchange and airport to the south-eastern suburbs.

AT also planned to start selling Hop cards at the airport to make public transport more accessible to tourists.

Last week, AT launched a 'simpler' bus network on Waiheke Island with more frequent services timed to meet the ferries from Auckland CBD.

'Waiheke is expected to experience significant population growth in the next few years. This could put pressure on an already constrained transport network,' an AT spokesperson said.

'If Waiheke is to cope with the expected population growth, public transport must become the mode of choice for more people travelling around the island.'