Can Fiordland’s economic system diversify away from tourism?

It is an area of ​​great natural beauty and attracted visitors worldwide before our borders were closed.

Fiordland was buzzing from a tourist point of view and in recent years has developed into a travel destination in its own right, separated from the high-profile tourism mecca Queenstown.

Milford Sound was on track to score its first goal one millionth visitor in the 2019-2020 season.

Covid-19 has disrupted tourism globally and nationally, and it had a crippling effect on Fiordland, which gradually relied on tourists to boost its local economy.

CONTINUE READING:
* * Business travelers should get a sting early, suggests the boss at Fiordland Lobster
* * Mackenzie tourism companies say they need government help to survive
* * Tourism Secretary Stuart Nash hints at possible support for Queenstown
* * The government is accused of “falling over” the tourism-dependent communities on the west coast from the boss of the hotel chain

So when Tourism Secretary Stuart NashTourism sector in a new lookA speech in Queenstown last month said the regions needed to be diversified so that they are less dependent on tourism. It is fair to say that his idea was drowned out like a lead balloon by the tourism companies in Te Anau and Fiordland.

When speaking to some of the tourism companies in Te Anau, you get the impression that Nash may not be welcome back anytime soon.

Many feel that the government hasn’t done enough to help them and now, to learn that the region may have to turn away from tourism, they feel like they have been thrown under the bus.

Fiordland is surrounded by a national park, which makes it an attraction for tourism, but at the same time makes it very difficult to expand the industry.

Barry Harcourt

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash visited Fiordland last month where he met Fiordland Lobster’s executive director, Alan Buckner.

There is no doubt that the economy has taken a hit. Data from MarketView shows that Fiordland’s total electronic visitor spend was $ 6.01 million in January, 53.5 percent less than in January 2020.

Data from Statistics NZ shows that housing and catering jobs accounted for more than 30 percent of the total number of jobs in Fiordland in 2017.

Wholesale and retail jobs accounted for just over 11 percent of the economy, while employment in personal and leisure services accounted for 8 percent. The numbers include part-time and full-time employment.

Stuff specifically asked Nash how diversification would take place in Fiordland and South Westland, as large industries and employers such as logging or mining are not allowed in areas dominated by national park land.

Nash said it is up to the local communities to work with the government as they see this diversification.

Robyn Edie / things

Fiordland tourist boat operator Adam Butcher with his ship Faith on Te Teau.

Fiordland Historic Cruises’ skipper Adam Butcher is skeptical that the local economy can diversify as he relies on being an “untouched gem” – which is why people are primarily drawn to the region.

“It’s a bit like telling a farmer this is your land, but you can’t harvest and you can’t have animals.

“The reality is that this is a really unrealistic approach. If you want to do something else, you need a significant capital outlay that nobody has right now. “

Barry Harcourt

Paul Norris, general manager of Real Journeys, said the company has diversified in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Real Journeys is a major player in the Fiordland tourism industry, offering cruises from Milford and Doubtful Sounds, as well as tours to the glow worm caves in Te Anau.

It is owned by the Queenstown-based tourism guide Wayfare Group, the restructured After the Covid-19 pandemic, some tourist attractions were no longer operating.

Paul Norris, general manager of Real Journeys, said the lack of visitors to the area had already diversified the company to some extent, taking advantage of the equipment and expertise of the staff.

“We recently rented our maintenance facility in Bluff for a commercial fishing vessel and our coaches are operating some local charter flights rather than bringing coaches from outside the area. Normally we would neither have the replacement system nor the people available.

“It’s small, but we keep doing more of this type of work, which is great,” he said.

Kavinda Herath / things

Southland District Mayor Gary Tong said diversifying Fiordland’s economy is difficult because it is surrounded by the national park.

Southland Mayor Gary Tong said the diversification of Fiordland’s economy was “a very big issue”.

“It’s a place bounded by the national park and all the restrictions that come with it. So it’s not a place where you can expand or diversify or just do it,” he said.

One example of this was the lake-to-lake cycle path that needed to be completed to attract tourists. It was not yet completed as part of it crossed the Department of Conservation land.

Kavinda Herath / things

Sarah Greaney, Chair of the Fiordland Community Board, says that if the community is to think about diversifying the economy, it has to think outside the box.

Sarah Greaney, Chair of the Fiordland Community Board, said the community must think differently after Covid-19.

“You can go ahead with what you’ve always done and get the same results, but there are definitely other things we could do here.”

Education in the hospitality industry could be a good option, she said.

Delivered

Bobbi Brown, general manager for tourism and events in the Great South, said the organization will keep tourism companies informed of the coronavirus outbreak.

Tourism and Events by Great South General Manager Bobbi Brown said his focus was on recreation and support for existing Fiordland businesses that were primarily tourism-related.

“For Fiordland, nature and the nature reserve are a huge part of its appeal, and it’s important to stay true to what makes it such a special place.”