Struggling tourism operators have taken another knock after a decision from DoC over a more than five year practice.

DoC is stopping people from pre-booking huts on great walks - The Heaphy, Paparoa and Rakiura tracks - a decision slammed as completely unreasonable.

It's something that has happened for the last five years - huts are pre-booked by operators so they can guarantee services like tours to potential customers. If the bookings aren't taken up through the company they are released.

One such operator who did this for five years to keep the business viable was Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience and owner-operator Furhana Ahmad told Mike Hosking the huts are always in high demand, but it’s a first come, first served policy.

“Because people have complained to the Department of Conservation, they’ve decided to take action.”

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