26 May 2016

Growing tourism pressure on regions

From Afternoons, 1:13 pm on 26 May 2016
Punakaiki on the West Coast

Punakaiki on the West Coast Photo: wiki commons

There were 2.9 million international arrivals in the year ended March, an annual growth of seven percent - and the third year in a row of growth. 660 thousand more people visited the country in the last year, compared with 3 years ago.  

Many of those tourists descend on the South Island - where tourist meccas have a small ratepayer base, which leaves little money to improve infrastructure to cope with the pressure of visitors at certain times of the year.  

Jesse Mulligan speaks to the Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn and Jason Fletcher who is councillor for the Hanmer Springs Ward on the Hurunui district council.