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Walking trail’s new project to ‘renew, restore, rebuild’
The Kaitiaki of New Zealand’s longest trail hopes it will become the world’s “first truly regenerative through-hike”.
Speaking at the Otago Tourism Policy School’s public lecture yesterday (Thursday 23 March), Te Araroa Trust Executive Director Matt Claridge shared insights into the trust’s new project, Te Araroa Whakahou – “to renew, to restore and to rebuild”.
Te Araroa is a 3000km trail that runs the length of Aotearoa, from Cape Reinga to Bluff, and takes, on average, about four months to complete.
Mr Claridge highlighted the trust’s plan to shift its focus from the trail – “literally the track” – to being more entwined with the walker, partners and environment.
The new project aims to connect iwi, local communities, walkers, and partners in a system-based approach to tourism conservation and walker education.
“It’s the ultimate outcome that every walker will leave Te Araroa a better place for future generations to enjoy.
“We want a trail where walkers feel a sense of place and belonging.”
After seeing thousands of people walk the trail but not knowing much about them or their plans, the trust started developing a process to learn more about the walkers.
It wants to determine what the ideal number of walkers is, what infrastructure it needs to accommodate them, and how sustainable the trail is.
“You don’t create change without knowing what motivates people, what their values are and why do things.
“With that understanding we can then move towards changing people’s attitudes, changing people’s behaviours.”
The overall goal of Te Araroa Whakahou is to reduce the environmental impact of walkers, support growth in the ecosystem and wildlife, enhance the walker experience by providing better facilities and services, and raise the profile of the trail.
Mr Claridge also hopes to encourage walkers and trail partners to invest in a range of initiatives, like tree planting and predator trapping.
“Maybe walkers will start getting involved in maintenance work on the trail, maybe they’ll reset predator traps, maybe they’ll be able to see where the trees they invested in are planted as they walk past them along the trail.
“But actually, I think most importantly, we’ll engage local iwi, trail communities and volunteers so that we take a broader view, and we deliver a far greater experience for those involved and connected to Te Araroa.”
Discussions about whether the trail was fit for purpose started when the Covid-19 pandemic closed New Zealand’s borders.
It gave trustees the opportunity to reflect on how they operated and, ultimately, decided it was time for a change.
Their goal now is for Te Araroa to become the world’s first regenerative through-trail.
“We believe that’s Kiwi, that’s New Zealand, that’s Aotearoa.”
The fifth annual University of Otago Tourism Policy School is a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, policy makers and prominent researchers to discuss key challenges in the New Zealand tourism industry.
This year’s theme is ‘Tourism Policy: Are we fit for purpose?’.
For more information please contact:
Jessica Wilson
Adviser Media Engagement
University of Otago
Mobile: 021 279 5016
Email: jessica.wilson@otago.ac.nz
People key to tourism’s role in post-COVID recovery
The tourism industry is poised to pull New Zealand through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic but it needs more people, an entrepreneur says. Speaking at the Otago Tourism Policy School recently, Jucy Co-Founder and LyLo Managing Director Tim Alpe says he is excited about where the industry is at and believes tourism will play a major role in the country’s COVID recovery.
“I know there is discussion around revisiting and rethinking tourism with a focus on the higher spend market, however right now our focus must be on encouraging anyone who is keen to come to New Zealand,” Mr Alpe says.
“The people who come and stay with us are also the people who are serving you in the cafes, retail shops and bars.”
Jucy is a campervan and car rental brand and LyLo is an accommodation provider. While Mr Alpe believes the Aotearoa tourism industry is in a good place, he expects there will be significant challenges with aging products, as a result of no capital investment during the pandemic and staff shortages.
Many staff left the tourism industry during the pandemic and have not returned, which means customers may not get the experiences they were expecting.
While New Zealand was a “forgivable brand” and people would understand the country has “been through hell” with border closures, it can only be forgivable for so long, Mr Alpe says.
“We’ve got to deliver on what we say and that will only happen by having passionate customer focused people delivering an incredible experience.
“We really need to encourage people back into tourism and then that will set us up really well for success.”
He urged business owners and tourism operators not to get caught up in overpricing to recoup losses from COVID.
“While we could easily be charging guests three times our pre-COVID prices for PODS at LyLo, we made a decision not to as it was more important to us that guests felt like they had value for money.
“Everyone needs to recover, but it’s important that we take a long-term view.
“The last thing we need is visitors going home and telling others that they loved New Zealand but ‘man, it was overpriced’.”
Mr Alpe also talked about the successes and tough times he faced after stepping away from Jucy a few years ago, after 20 years at the helm.
He founded the company with his brother, Dan, in 2002 with 25 cars they bought from the Auckland Hospital board.
Seventeen years later, the company had experienced huge growth but things came crashing down during the pandemic.
After leaving, Mr Alpe struggled with his mental health which led him to seek professional help, which he credits with him getting his mojo back.
While the last few years had been a “journey” he believes he is a better person and businessman as a result.
During the presentation he shared some of the many lessons he has learned: culture is everything, especially during the tough times; growth is exciting, challenging and rewarding but bigger isn’t always better; and finally, don’t dwell on the past as you can’t change it.
The fifth annual University of Otago Tourism Policy School is a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, policy makers and prominent researchers to discuss key challenges in the New Zealand tourism industry.
This year’s theme is ‘Tourism Policy: Are we fit for purpose?’.
For more information please contact:
Jessica Wilson
Adviser Media Engagement
University of Otago
Mobile: 021 279 5016
Email: jessica.wilson@otago.ac.nz
People key to tourism’s role in post-COVID recovery
The tourism industry is poised to pull New Zealand through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic but it needs more people, an entrepreneur says. Speaking at the Otago Tourism Policy School recently, Jucy Co-Founder and LyLo Managing Director Tim Alpe says he is excited about where the industry is at and believes tourism will play a major role in the country’s COVID recovery.
“I know there is discussion around revisiting and rethinking tourism with a focus on the higher spend market, however right now our focus must be on encouraging anyone who is keen to come to New Zealand,” Mr Alpe says.
“The people who come and stay with us are also the people who are serving you in the cafes, retail shops and bars.”
Jucy is a campervan and car rental brand and LyLo is an accommodation provider. While Mr Alpe believes the Aotearoa tourism industry is in a good place, he expects there will be significant challenges with aging products, as a result of no capital investment during the pandemic and staff shortages.
Many staff left the tourism industry during the pandemic and have not returned, which means customers may not get the experiences they were expecting.
While New Zealand was a “forgivable brand” and people would understand the country has “been through hell” with border closures, it can only be forgivable for so long, Mr Alpe says.
“We’ve got to deliver on what we say and that will only happen by having passionate customer focused people delivering an incredible experience.
“We really need to encourage people back into tourism and then that will set us up really well for success.”
He urged business owners and tourism operators not to get caught up in overpricing to recoup losses from COVID.
“While we could easily be charging guests three times our pre-COVID prices for PODS at LyLo, we made a decision not to as it was more important to us that guests felt like they had value for money.
“Everyone needs to recover, but it’s important that we take a long-term view.
“The last thing we need is visitors going home and telling others that they loved New Zealand but ‘man, it was overpriced’.”
Mr Alpe also talked about the successes and tough times he faced after stepping away from Jucy a few years ago, after 20 years at the helm.
He founded the company with his brother, Dan, in 2002 with 25 cars they bought from the Auckland Hospital board.
Seventeen years later, the company had experienced huge growth but things came crashing down during the pandemic.
After leaving, Mr Alpe struggled with his mental health which led him to seek professional help, which he credits with him getting his mojo back.
While the last few years had been a “journey” he believes he is a better person and businessman as a result.
During the presentation he shared some of the many lessons he has learned: culture is everything, especially during the tough times; growth is exciting, challenging and rewarding but bigger isn’t always better; and finally, don’t dwell on the past as you can’t change it.
The fifth annual University of Otago Tourism Policy School is a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, policy makers and prominent researchers to discuss key challenges in the New Zealand tourism industry.
This year’s theme is ‘Tourism Policy: Are we fit for purpose?’.
For more information please contact:
Jessica Wilson
Adviser Media Engagement
University of Otago
Mobile: 021 279 5016
Email: jessica.wilson@otago.ac.nz
If Aotearoa introduces no additional climate policies, it will become a “hot house” by 2050, Tourism Industry Transformation Plan Environment Co-Chair Laurissa Cooney announced at the University of Otago’s Tourism Policy School today.
Launching The Aotearoa Circle’s Tourism Climate Change Scenarios Report on the second day, Ms Cooney shared the three possible futures for the tourism sector based on the country’s climate action.
“The New Zealand tourism industry has a significant reliance on the natural environment,” Ms Cooney says.
“As we take flight again [following the COVID-19 pandemic], the country can follow regenerative pathways to safeguard our clean and green reputation, while ensuring we adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
The first scenario, called Hiahia – Net Zero 2050, limits the global warming to +1.5 degC by the end of the century through stringent climate policies and system change, societal shift in mindset, and innovation and investment.
“It is ambitious, but can be done with bold action that includes implementing robust policy and pro-active systems change to drive down our emissions.
“If we can do that, then international travel can be transformed and our tourism sector can become a world leader in a regenerative approach.”
The second scenario, Pokanoa – Disorderly 2050, shows a “disorderly” transition with little policy action until after 2030 when strong, rapid action is needed to limit warming to 2 degC.
Physical and transition risks are higher, and tourism operating costs increase, Ms Cooney says.
The third scenario is Wharewera – Hothouse 2050.
The physical impacts of climate change would be severe, with irreversible changes like glacial melt and sea level rise.
“There would be frequent damage and disruptions to transport, infrastructure, and food supply.
“Severe weather events like the recent North Island floods and cyclones will be evermore frequent. No-one wants to be in the hothouse scenario.”
All three scenarios demonstrate that we must collectively do everything we can to keep below +1.5 degC of warming, Ms Cooney says.
“The scale of the challenges we face in the future will be determined by how quickly and proactively we respond now.
“We need to commit to rapidly following regenerative pathways or we will see a catastrophic decline in our natural environment.”
The fifth annual University of Otago Tourism Policy School is a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, policy makers and prominent researchers to discuss key challenges in the New Zealand tourism industry.
This year’s theme is ‘Tourism Policy: Are we fit for purpose?’.
Ms Cooney was the Co-Chair of The Aotearoa Circle’s Tourism Sector Climate Change Scenarios report released today.
For more information please contact:Jessica Wilson
Adviser Media Engagement
University of Otago
Mobile: 021 279 5016
Email: jessica.wilson@otago.ac.nz