Tourism operators and conservation
"Today I am more convinced than ever before that conservation is the real cornerstone of New Zealand's tourism industry. Tourism and conservation need each other for mutual survival and the right direction to go is to take more notice of conservation issues, not less…" Les Hutchins, founder of Real Journeys
Vital role of conservation in tourism
Tourism is good for conservation and conservation is good for tourism.
Birdsong Trust stoat trap, Abel Tasman
National Park
Conservation and well managed tourism are vital for New Zealand's high quality, authentic and sustainable visitor industry.
Concessionaires are encouraged to get involved and contribute directly to conservation work that will protect and enhance the environment they depend on for their business.
Work undertaken by operators
Benefits for operators
Benefits for visitors
Why you should get involved
How to get involved
Operators participating in conservation
Throughout New Zealand tourism operators are undertaking conservation work including:
- Controlling pest and weeds
- Protecting threatened species
- Propagating native plants
- Contributing financially to conservation management and research
- Encouraging visitors to contribute
- Showcasing ecotourism best practice and care for the environment
- Advocating conservation to clients
- Involvement in local conservation campaigns.
More and more visitors to New Zealand expect and demand environmentally friendly products. Some visitors decide to purchase based on perceptions of a products' sustainability.
Visitors expect an informative, interactive and educational experience. This includes learning about conservation programmes and current conservation issues.
By being involved in conservation projects your business can deliver fresh, exciting experiences with first hand knowledge. When your visitors are exposed to this and know that your operation 'walks the talk' their expectations will be exceeded.
Other benefits associated with involving your business in conservation work include:
- Contributing to tourism accreditation schemes such as Qualmark Green
- Visitors' willingness to pay for quality and increased environmental performance
- Increasing the authenticity of the 100% Pure ecotourism product by walking the talk
- Keeping interpretation alive and relevant with first hand knowledge, by involving guides and clients in your conservation work
- Enhancing your competitive advantage by 'going the extra mile'
- Using conservation work in advertising material to attract visitors, while avoiding green washing.
Visitors with growing environmental awareness want to experience the natural and cultural environment of New Zealand. Operators can deliver this experience by:
- Responding to visitors increasing interest in experiencing and protecting nature. It is an added bonus for visitors to find out that they are contributing to conservation through their visitor experience
- Providing opportunities for visitors to choose to be actively involved in nature conservation
- Using interpretive skills and knowledge to increase visitors' awareness and understanding of conservation themes.
Many operators work in tourism because they love the outdoors and sharing it with others and are committed to helping other New Zealanders look after our remarkable natural environment.
Operators have told us there are other ethical reasons for being involved apart from business or visitor experience. They include:
- Taking action to look after New Zealand's threatened species
- Demonstrating to the community that the business is environmentally and ethically responsible
- Obtaining local, national or international recognition for the quality of the tourism product including its contribution to protecting the environment
- Increasing job satisfaction for yourself and your staff
- Attracting and retaining staff - through opportunities for them to personally 'make a difference'.
If you are interested in being involved in ensuring the future of your business and New Zealand's environment you can:
- Consider the impacts of your business and how you might enhance the environment through a conservation action
- Discuss with staff about whether they want to be more actively involved in conservation
- Find out what opportunities are out there to contribute to by keeping in contact with DOC staff
- Think long term - business success and conservation are closely linked. Many operators know their conservation actions make good business sense.
Kiwi Encounter
Kiwi Encounter started out as a conservation programme hatching kiwi eggs and hand raising the chicks before being released back to where they were first sourced.
Now they have a tourism product based on this "It [conservation action] was the vehicle for us to set up a commercially viable operation which also allowed us to expand our participation in Kiwi Recovery." (Marek Wypych).
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Waimangu Volcanic Valley contributes to spraying weeds and wilding pine seedling removal. "I believe that the desire of my staff to look after the area was not just good for the environment and the visitor experience; it also provided me and my staff with a great deal of personal satisfaction". (Harvey James).
Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass
Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass controls possums and hares, and fences areas that contain endangered plants. "I have this very strong belief that it's not just about being sustainable and green within the four walls of your business, it's about having a broader impact through conservation, education, advocacy and putting something back through practical conservation work." (Gerry McSweeney).
White Heron Sanctuary Tours
White Heron Sanctuary Tours maintain 40 stoat traps and contributes to weed control in the area. "… I always thought they [heron] were spectacular." (Ken Arnold).
Black Cat Group
Black Cat Group contributes annually to conservation and community projects and shares the vision of the Quail Island Restoration Trust. "When you spend 20 years of your life, like we have, out there with marine mammals, you tend to get some sort of link and co-operation, partnership with them. It would be unnatural not to form a bond, wouldn't it?" (Paul Bingham).
Milford Sound Lodge
Milford Sound Lodge maintains 10 stoat traps along a local walking track. "… the majority of our staff have very strong belief systems in regard to environmental management." (Tara Redmond).
Real Journeys
Real Journeys contributed financially to the reintroduction of Campbell Island Teal Duck to predator free Campbell Island. "… stoat trapping at Milford is all to do with the staff taking pride in the environment in which they work, which I think is really important, and that positively rubs off onto the visitor." (Dave Hawkey).
Other operators
Many more operators (not all of whom are concessionaires) contribute to conservation. They include:
- Blue Duck Lodge
- Bush and Beyond Tours
- Catlins Wildlife Trekkers
- Tourism Holdings Limited
- Mount Cook Hotel Collection
- Queenstown Rafting
- Dolphin Watch Ecotours
- The Petrel Colony
- Elm Tours
- Penguin Place
- Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre
- Zealandia: Karori Sanctuary Experience
- Coast to Coast
View DOC's sponsorships and partnerships
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