Tourism Minister Stuart Nash says he will ban hiring vans that are not self-contained to tourists, as he urges a focus on attracting high-spending visitors.
The incoming minister told a tourism summit yesterday the industry should sell itself as a destination for the wealthy when borders re-open.
Nash told RNZ Morning Report today there was built-up demand from wealthy travellers, while backpackers and freedom campers would not be the target market.
"Gone are the days as far as I'm concerned where you hire a cheap van that is not self-contained," Nash said.
Nash said too often ratepayers and taxpayers had picked up the bill of the impact of tourism on infrastructure, and the environment and the full cost of tourism needs to be priced into the visitor experience.
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"What we're looking at at the moment is a unique opportunity for a re-set.
"We haven't got tourists here at the moment, so we have an opportunity to re-define our global value proposition and market to those who add significant value to our country.
"Every tourist that comes to New Zealand will pay for the New Zealand experience."
Nash's call hasn't gone down well with Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins:
Nash said he would be looking at "innovative ways" so ratepayers and taxpayers don't foot the bill for infrastructure tourists use.
The minister told Morning Report he was looking at regulations to stop international tourists from being able to hire vans that don't include toilets.
"We get all these vans driving round at the moment that are not self-contained, so the driver or the passenger wants to go to the toilet - we all know examples of this - they pull over to the side of the road and they shit in our waterways.
"So what I am saying for example is, as a first cut, these vans that are hired out ... and we will look at regulations to stop this, you will not be able to hire a van that is not self-contained.
"If you're willing to pay for a campervan at least you have the ability to dispose of your excrement in a way that meets our sustainability goals and quite frankly our brand.
"What I'm saying is, all our marketing effort will go into high net worth individuals who are looking for a piece of paradise at the moment as they sit in lockdown in New York or London."
The country would "unashamedly" target the super wealthy, Nash said.
"Do you think that we want to become destination for those freedom campers and backpackers who don't spend much and leave the high net worth individuals to other countries?"
Nash said he approved of systems in other countries where visitors pay more than locals at tourist attractions, but said the Government can't direct how operators set their prices.
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Comments
Not before time. Long overdue
Camper vans without self contained loos should never have been allowed; bit like e-scooters. So it makes sense to sort it. Now, what is he going to do about hiring (or buying) a station wagon for the NZ experience?
The answer to all this is of course to provide more and better facilities so they don't need to freedom camp. We are light years behind other countries.
Just make sure you qualify self contained appropriately that is seperate fixed toilet with door, water supply sufficient for three days and waste tanks sufficient for similar. None of this chemical toilet under the bed and deposit refunded if not used bullshit! As a rate payer I don’t feel I should subsidise a free holiday while camping grounds are available, many on leased council land struggling to make a living.
Ah, the joys of a government micro-managed economy, more commonly known as socialism.
In one swipe of the pen Nash will kill off several vehicle rental companies, numerous backpacker hostels scattered all over the country, thousands of homestays, small time tourist operations, young people intending to include NZ in their OE and a labour source for our farms, orchards, cafes, motels and hotels.
In turn he will favour big hotel chains, large corporate tourist activities staffed at a 'living wage' of course, private jets and a playground for the elite. Think bigger cars, busses and boats.
He doesn't want to enhance the NZ experience to all of those that might be interested, he wants to reset it as an elitist experience.
Of course this is being done to save NZ tax and ratepayers money so the virtue signals are all in the right place.
What a bright and rosy future we will all have servicing the world's wealthy escaping the madness of crowds, a madness many of them would have helped to create as they too strived to create a social and environmental utopia.
No doubt NZ will win many awards from afar, for it's progressive thinking.
Orwell will be LOL.
Mr Hawkins talks alot of dribble! To reduce greenhouse gas emission we have to reduce air travel and make sure that those who do travel needlessly are made to pay for the environmental damage they cause. For example Mr Hawkins has just flown to Auckland and back to have a meeting with Air New Zealand's chief executive (coincidence?), by having a Zoom meeting he could of slashed his carbon footprint. If Mr Hawkins was made to pay for the environmental damage caused by the flight he might of thought twice. It is called a carbon tax, (he might of heard of it). The same for international tourists, the more it costs the less who will come, the less who come the less environmental damage. By targeting the wealthy it helps to balance the economics.
Absolutely outstanding comment. Seems hypocrisy is alive and well in the halls of the DCC, he seems to be all about principles until they are inconvenient for him. I wonder if the mayor would care to respond to your excellent point, I doubt it though.
Crap in our waterways eh? Well, our local beach is covered in it, but that's not going anywhere by banning loo-less vans because it's caused by freedom campers disguised as local dog owners.