Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), the peak body for New Zealand's tourism sector, has expressed strong support for proposals aimed at modernising the country’s conservation management system.

On Friday, the Department of Conservation released two discussion documents for public consultation, which outline a range of initiatives designed to protect New Zealand’s natural environment while fostering sustainable tourism growth and regional economic development.

Among the key proposals is a plan to streamline the process for obtaining concessions to operate on public conservation land, a move TIA has welcomed.

The current concession system has been widely criticised for being slow, complex, and inflexible, and TIA is advocating for a more transparent and efficient process that provides greater certainty for tourism operators.

CAP Zipline. Photo: TIA.

TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram highlighted the importance of modernising the concession system to ensure that it supports both conservation goals and the tourism industry’s needs.

“We know that the concession system has been broken for some time. We are driven to ensure the process for obtaining a concession is clearer, faster, and more flexible. It should also provide greater certainty for operators,” Ingram said.

Another proposal under consideration is the introduction of access charges for some public conservation areas.

While Ingram acknowledged the need for additional funding to manage conservation efforts, she emphasised that the impact of these charges must be considered alongside other existing funding sources, such as the $100 International Visitor Levy (IVL), which is expected to generate millions of dollars for conservation and visitor management.

“There’s a great deal to digest, and we will be carefully reviewing the proposals before preparing our submission. It’s also important that the consideration of access charging takes into account the substantial revenue already being generated through the IVL,” Ingram said.

TIA has called on its members to engage with the consultation process, which will help shape the future of conservation land management in New Zealand.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa is the leading industry body for New Zealand's tourism sector.

With approximately 1,200 member businesses across the country, TIA represents all sectors of the tourism industry, from small owner-operators to major international corporates.

TIA is dedicated to promoting the sustainability of New Zealand’s tourism industry and has led the implementation of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment, encouraging businesses to contribute positively to the environment, economy, and local communities.

TIA also runs major industry events, including TRENZ, the New Zealand Tourism Awards, and Tourism Summit Aotearoa.

For more information on the consultation and to view the government’s proposal documents, visit the DOC website – www.doc.govt.nz.