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Calls for better tourist infrastructure for visitor boom

Author
George Freeman ,
Publish Date
Wed, 25 Jan 2017, 5:15AM
A camper at Tapapakanga Regional Park Beach (File photo - Auckland Council)
A camper at Tapapakanga Regional Park Beach (File photo - Auckland Council)

Calls for better tourist infrastructure for visitor boom

Author
George Freeman ,
Publish Date
Wed, 25 Jan 2017, 5:15AM

Local Government New Zealand says more central Government funding for tourism infrastructure is desperately needed to help districts cope with the impacts of freedom camping.

Federated Farmers has said popular freedom camping sites have been overwhelmed with record tourist levels, and the Government's not doing enough to fund the needs of communities who aren't coping.

Local Government New Zealand President Lawrence Yule said the $12 million the Government has so far allocated towards this problem is appreciated, but it's nowhere near enough.

He said further funding is becoming urgent.

"We cannot wait. We have a boom in tourism at the moment and that's great for New Zealand and great for our brand, but we cannot let ourselves down but not having appropriate infrastructure that people expect when they book those trips.

Mr Yule said they've been calling for greater tourism infrastructure funding for some time.

He said the burgeoning freedom camping market has been an imposition on many parts of rural New Zealand.

"Those communities and the clean, green image we represent could be under some threat unless we provide the proper infrastructure. Those same communities are struggling to fund the scale of that infrastructure."

 

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