Updated 7.32am: The head of Destination Queenstown wants to see the next person who snatches keys off a foreign driver charged by police.

This comes after around a dozen kiwis over the last couple of weeks have seized the keys of tourist drivers due to what they believe is poor driving.

Destination Queenstown's CEO Graham Budd says this is bullying and abusive behaviour and goes against how we normally treat visitors.

"A large part of our reputation is built on being hospitable, welcome, friendly and a safe place to visit. Actually people feeling safe in our community and I think that's at risk at the moment."

Over the past few months there's been a number of high profile crashes involving overseas visitors.

Graham Budd says the hysteria around foreign drivers is creating a mob mentality.

He'd like to see the police take a stand and charge the next person who seizes the keys of a foreign driver.

A Professor in tourism believes as a country we have a host responsibility to look after our visitors when they're here.

Professor James Higham from Otago University says education for our visitors, not vigilante justice, is key to keeping everyone safe.

"We have to also accept responsibility to look after them and local residents in the ways tourists are able to experience New Zealand."

James Higham says if the actions of a few against tourist drivers continue, it could harm our reputation as a welcoming destination.