New Zealand is known for its warm welcome and beautiful natural attractions. But like all good things, this also comes to an end.

While the heartwarming smile and warm welcome remain, New Zealand plans to restrict access to some of the best natural attractions for tourists to protect the environment.

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On Tuesday, Tourism Minister Stuart Nash announced plans to retrospectively “reset” tourism in the country.Covid World.

As part of this plan, attractions such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Milford Sound-Piopiotahi will now only be accessible to limited visitors as the site “cannot return to its pre-Covid state,” said Nash.

While the tourism industry accounts for more than five percent of the country’s total GDP and employs nearly 13.6 percent (directly or indirectly), the country cannot risk further harming its environment.

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“The reality is that we have a responsibility to look at the role of intergenerational tourism in New Zealand,” said Nash. “It can’t go back to how it was.”

Nash also stated that the high level of tourism is putting enormous pressure on several communities. “The unsustainable level of tourism is putting way too much pressure on communities and our natural attractions, and many communities are struggling to absorb them,” he said.

The New Zealand government has unveiled a $ 200 million package to help aid pandemic-hit cities in the South Island and support small businesses.

“The economic impact of losing international visitors is felt beyond the tourist workforce and businesses,” said Nash. “Whole communities, especially in five regions of the South Island, are facing new challenges for their way of life.”

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