Kiwis happy visitor growth is slowing
A slowing in the growth of international visitor arrivals is being seen as a positive thing by some Kiwis.
A survey of attitudes to tourism show negative sentiment about the pressure it puts on the country has tailed off by three percentage points to 40 per cent.
The biannual mood of the national survey commissioned by Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) questioned just over 1000 people in November, and 93 per cent still agree international visitors are good for the economy.
Perceptions that the current numbers visiting New Zealand are too high have risen steadily since late 2015 but the number of Kiwis feeling that way now sits at
24 per cent, down slightly on survey results from March 2019.
Pressure on infrastructure remains the top concern (39 per cent), followed by impacts on the environment (22 per cent), with concern about traffic congestion and overcrowding of national parks and great walks both at
13 per cent.
Visitors showing disrespect for the country – by littering or leaving human waste – and a shortage of accommodation were also bugbears, and more people believed that international tourism increased the risk of serious road accidents.
Just over half of those surveyed still felt that predicted international visitor growth was too high, well up on the 30 per cent of four years ago.
Queenstown and Auckland were seen as the locations most feeling the effects of visitor growth, while perceptions of pressure had decreased markedly in Rotorua but had increased on the West Coast.
TIA chief executive Chris Roberts believes the latest mood of the nation survey indicates Kiwis support efforts by the industry and government to address the challenges of tourism growth.
They include the international visitor levy, which is expected to raise more than $450 million over five years split between tourism and conservation, and up to $25m annually from the tourism infrastructure fund to help pay for critical regional facilities.
‘‘Concerns about traffic congestion, accommodation shortages and freedom camping are significantly down on the previous survey.
‘‘As the summer visitor season hits its peak, we are continuing to keep a close watch on pressure points and will work with government and industry to find solutions,’’ said Roberts.