Tourism – recognising the costs of our resource use

Picton

The tourism sector does not operate in a bubble, and any environmental initiative needs to combine all sectors of the economy and the community to make real change.

The wine, forestry, aquiculture, and tourism industries especially need to align under the environment in a win–win partnership – they are all inter–twined and all need each other to be successful.

Intergenerational tourism – stewardship for the long term

Recognising tourism as a primary industry aligns community thinking and perspective on this sector – New Zealand rural communities already live the idea of land stewardship.

Tourism, by looking in the mirror and owning, embracing, and managing these costs, will cement its future as a long–term intergenerational part of the economy – i.e., – “I inherited the tourism business from my parents”, or “We are a 3rd generation tourism family”, or “reinvestment into the environment from visitor contributions has allowed for the recovery of this forest and the return of native birdlife”.

This plan views much of tourism as a primary industry and in the same way as farming, aquiculture and forestry derives its resources from the natural environment – the source of wealth for Marlborough.

That tourism for too many years has taken and not returned, and with new accountability comes mana and community recognition. Tourism needs to walk the talk.

With this comes the need for the visitor industry to recognise

• That natural resources used by the visitor industry are limited.

• That tourism needs to be sustainable and regenerative.

• That we need to protect the environment – as dairy farmers fence off rivers or wineries reducing spray.

• That tourism needs to give back and reinvest into a circular natural environment.

• That there are costs associated with tourism – and who pays and how?

• That there are community impacts created by tourism – freedom camping bringing public amenity reduction, cruise ship volumes bringing lifestyle impacts that need to be managed. The Te Tauihu – Intergenerational Strategy – Being Good Ancestors

Tupuna Pono – is a top of the South Island initiative driven by local iwi covering area from Golden Bay to Lake Grassmere. This is a vision to be good ancestors with the well being of the people of Te Tauihu at the heart.

The strategy aims to tackle climate change, promote regenerative agriculture, clarify regional identity, promote social equity, housing, and leadership – by looking after the environment, people, economy, and infrastructure

Of the land, with the land, for the land. Here to stay.