Socio-economic effects of concession-based tourism in New Zealand’s national parks

Published:  

July 2011
This report assessed the socio-economic effects of concession-based tourism on local and regional communities and economies in order to better inform DOC’s concession management activity.

Summary

A tourism inventory, in-depth interviews with concessionaires and visitor surveys were undertaken in 2004–2005 to measure concession tourism activity in Tongariro National Park, Abel Tasman National Park and Fiordland National Park.

The purpose of this study was to assess the direct and secondary socioeconomic effects of concession-based tourism on adjacent communities and regional economies in selected New Zealand case-study areas. Specifically, using information about Tongariro, Abel Tasman and Fiordland National Parks and one each of their gateway communities and district(s) (National Park Village and Taupo–Ruapehu region; Marahau and Nelson–Tasman region; Te Anau and Southland District).

This assessment recommends that DOC, local authorities, regional tourism organisations and the tourism industry collaborate to gather data about the role of national parks in the development of gateway communities and the regional tourism sector, and that future research includes data collection on both concession and non-concession visitor use of parks.

Publication information

Science for Conservation 309

Author: Mariska Wouters

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