Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism
 
Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism

Tourism Ticker

Tourism Ticker
  News   Recovery   Opinion
Tuesday 05 March 2024
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Opinion

Perspectives: Do major sporting events really benefit destinations? It depends 28th February 2024 /

Perspectives: Do major sporting events really benefit destinations? It depends

Investment in major events to promote less-frequented destinations may be a better option for tourism compared to popular hubs like Paris.


An Operator’s View: Tasman Holiday Parks’ David Aflallo 19th February 2024 /

An Operator’s View: Tasman Holiday Parks’ David Aflallo

The holiday park operator’s NZ boss on summer demand, workforce challenges, and why the govt must listen to industry.


Perspectives: The value of mega events for tourism 15th February 2024 /

Perspectives: The value of mega events for tourism

Big events are a growing share of the tourism market and can provide important economic opportunities for destinations.


An Operator’s View: Forgotten World Adventures’ Grant Ross 12th February 2024 /

An Operator’s View: Forgotten World Adventures’ Grant Ross

The experience’s owner on the economy’s “perfect storm”, becoming trade-friendly, and why staff investment is a top priority.


Perspectives: Can e-bikes be a solution to sustainable transport in rural tourist areas? 8th February 2024 /

Perspectives: Can e-bikes be a solution to sustainable transport in rural tourist areas?

The provision of greater e-bike access in national parks and rural areas can benefit sustainability, writes UK researcher Ian Philips.


An Operator’s View: Reaping the benefits of Splash Planet’s $2.4m makeover 5th February 2024 /

An Operator’s View: Reaping the benefits of Splash Planet’s $2.4m makeover

After a difficult last summer, one of Hawke’s Bays most popular attractions is back in business.


Perspectives: Why holiday homes are the next battleground for product marketing 30th January 2024 /

Perspectives: Why holiday homes are the next battleground for product marketing

Brands have long made use of try before you buy product advertising at hotels, but holiday homes could be more effective locations for brands to reach consumers, write UK researchers.


An Operator’s View: Adventure Hostels’ Brett Duncan 29th January 2024 /

An Operator’s View: Adventure Hostels’ Brett Duncan

The hostel group’s co-owner says occupancy has bounced back to pre-Covid levels but increasing expenses and the cost of capital is constraining ambitions.


Wednesday Letter: The recovery – not the pandemic – is the real catalyst for tourism change 24th January 2024 /

Wednesday Letter: The recovery – not the pandemic – is the real catalyst for tourism change

What should the priorities be for operators and industry groups for the year ahead?


Perspectives: How tourism can reach net zero 22nd January 2024 /

Perspectives: How tourism can reach net zero

The industry is making progress but more commitment is needed from leaders to confront the challenge and drive innovation.


Perspectives: Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world? 16th January 2024 /

Perspectives: Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world?

Snow production is a relatively small contributor to the global ski industry’s carbon emissions – it is the associated tourism that must adapt as the world warms.


Perspectives: TDLG’s Armitage on shaping tourism data for a sustainable sector 15th December 2023 /

Perspectives: TDLG’s Armitage on shaping tourism data for a sustainable sector

NZ’s tourism data provision must move beyond short-term fixes and funding gaps, writes the Tourism Data Leadership Group co-chair.


Perspectives: NZ can double youth sector to $3bn in four years – BYATA’s Marriner 14th December 2023 /

Perspectives: NZ can double youth sector to $3bn in four years – BYATA’s Marriner

Marriner shares his views on the strengths of the market, visa progress, and opportunities to work with the new government on increasing the value of the youth sector.


Perspectives: NZ aviation risks greenwashing litigation 13th December 2023 /

Perspectives: NZ aviation risks greenwashing litigation

The New Zealand aviation sector’s climate claims put it at risk of greenwashing litigation with tourism stakeholder reputations on the line.


An Operator’s View: Fly By Wire owner Neil Harrap 11th December 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Fly By Wire owner Neil Harrap

Owner Neil Harrap on launching a unique experience, the global attention it has attracted, and why he has decided to sell.


Perspectives: Indonesia’s volcano tragedy a reminder for NZ tourism 8th December 2023 /

Perspectives: Indonesia’s volcano tragedy a reminder for NZ tourism

The deadly eruption should focus operators and travel sellers here on how they are delivering on health and safety.


Perspectives: NZ needs “louder voice” in competitive global market 7th December 2023 /

Perspectives: NZ needs “louder voice” in competitive global market

More investment, faster immigration processing, and council planning for coach parking are some of the key focus areas for the future, Tourism Export Council of New Zealand chair Scott Mehrtens said in his speech at the association’s Xmas Symposium in Auckland yesterday.


An Operator’s View: The Lindis Group’s William Hudson 4th December 2023 /

An Operator’s View: The Lindis Group’s William Hudson

The MD tells the Ticker about the luxury operator’s latest experience, regional challenges, investing in staff, and one benefit from the pandemic.


Perspectives: Snowmaking investment at critical junction for ski industry 30th November 2023 /

Perspectives: Snowmaking investment at critical junction for ski industry

The increasing popularity of snowmaking is helping the ski industry but there are risks as well as benefits.


Perspectives: How public, private sectors can partner to address tourism’s challenges 29th November 2023 /

Perspectives: How public, private sectors can partner to address tourism’s challenges

There is a tension in tourism between the economic benefits travellers bring and their environmental impacts but there are ways the public and private sectors can work together to create positive change, according to Visa’s global head of merchant sales and acquiring, Jennifer Munday.


An Operator’s View: Cycle Journeys’ Geoff Gabites 27th November 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Cycle Journeys’ Geoff Gabites

Cycle Journeys owner and director Geoff Gabites tells the Ticker how cycling tours found their footing during Covid, Pacific expansion, and the value of New Zealand’s Great Rides.


An Operator’s View: Dive! Tutukaka’s Kate Malcolm 20th November 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Dive! Tutukaka’s Kate Malcolm

With forward bookings “incredibly strong”, the Northland operator is hoping for better than last summer’s storms.


Perspectives: With climate warming, could autumn be the new summer for tourism? 16th November 2023 /

Perspectives: With climate warming, could autumn be the new summer for tourism?

Devastating heatwaves and unpredictable summer weather could end up shifting tourism demand into the shoulder seasons.


Wednesday Letter: After 4 years and $16m, why is WorkSafe still pursuing Whakaari booking agents? 15th November 2023 /

Wednesday Letter: After 4 years and $16m, why is WorkSafe still pursuing Whakaari booking agents?

Why the ongoing legal case is both unreasonable and unwarranted.


Perspectives: Space tourism may become viable but it raises a host of concerns 14th November 2023 /

Perspectives: Space tourism may become viable but it raises a host of concerns

The commercialisation of space has far-reaching implications and tourism adds to the challenges.


An Operator’s View: Mountain Jade’s Sam Hulton 13th November 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Mountain Jade’s Sam Hulton

The pandemic accelerated the company’s push into tourism, resulting in performance now far outstripping pre-Covid.


Perspectives: Could ‘carbon passports’ that ration travel become a reality? 9th November 2023 /

Perspectives: Could ‘carbon passports’ that ration travel become a reality?

‘Carbon passports’ that limit the amount of travel could be seen as an extreme measure but the world is already on the verge of change, writes the University of Westminster’s Ross Bennett-Cook.


An Operator’s View: Velocity Valley’s Simon Short 6th November 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Velocity Valley’s Simon Short

The Rotorua attraction invests $750k in a new experience, helping to drive a spike in interest for the summer ahead.


Perspectives: Whakaari case alters accepted risk in tourism 3rd November 2023 /

Perspectives: Whakaari case alters accepted risk in tourism

Responsibilities around risk are not just limited to operators.


Perspectives: Changes to Tongariro Alpine Crossing blueprint for National Parks 2nd November 2023 /

Perspectives: Changes to Tongariro Alpine Crossing blueprint for National Parks

The new management of one of the country’s most popular visitor experiences could provide a way forward for other iconic tourism areas.


Perspectives: ‘Overtourism’ returns with the recovery so how can we address it? 31st October 2023 /

Perspectives: ‘Overtourism’ returns with the recovery so how can we address it?

The way tourist experiences are developed must move away from consumerist fantasies to responsible consumption, write tourism researchers Joseph Martin Cheer and Marina Novelli.


An Operator’s View: Secret Spot Hot Tubs’ Keith Kolver 30th October 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Secret Spot Hot Tubs’ Keith Kolver

The co-founder on the attraction’s new features, where he’s investing, and holding prices as margins compress.


Wednesday Letter: Tourism needs “a contest of ideas” 25th October 2023 /

Wednesday Letter: Tourism needs “a contest of ideas”

The industry must set priorities and work collaboratively with govt if it wants change, writes HCA’s James Doolan.


An Operator’s View: Geraldine TOP 10’s Brian & Kathryn Horrell 16th October 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Geraldine TOP 10’s Brian & Kathryn Horrell

The owners on cost of living impacts, its latest awards, and seeking an exit after 23 years.


Election 2023: Let’s put Covid – and this govt – behind us 13th October 2023 /

Election 2023: Let’s put Covid – and this govt – behind us

Labour barely addressed the sector’s needs during its campaign, writes the Ticker’s Paul Yandall.


Perspectives: Once a great leader in youth hostels, YHA is struggling 12th October 2023 /

Perspectives: Once a great leader in youth hostels, YHA is struggling

Around the world, YHA has not kept up with the times and faces considerable pressure.


Perspectives: China’s real estate crisis a concern for international tourism 10th October 2023 /

Perspectives: China’s real estate crisis a concern for international tourism

Chinese homeowners are being burdened with shrinking wealth, which is causing flow-on effects for spending and the global travel sector.


An Operator’s View: Roady’s Roscoe Price Moor 9th October 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Roady’s Roscoe Price Moor

The MD on an app-based approach to promoting NZ and a capital raise for a big push into Australia.


Perspectives: It’s time to set the record straight on the proposed Tarras airport 6th October 2023 /

Perspectives: It’s time to set the record straight on the proposed Tarras airport

There’s no need for a fourth international airport in the South Island, writes Queenstown Airport CEO Glen Sowry.


Perspectives: Is tourism ready for mandatory emissions reporting? 5th October 2023 /

Perspectives: Is tourism ready for mandatory emissions reporting?

Growing demands for sustainability disclosures present challenges for tourism, write Christopher Imbsen from the World Travel & Tourism Council and Dan Darcy from management consultancy Oliver Wyman.


Perspectives: Can tourist taxes control overtourism? 4th October 2023 /

Perspectives: Can tourist taxes control overtourism?

As NZ considers charging for Milford Sound, Venice is applying a tourist tax but do they really help address tourism pressure?


An Operator’s View: Earthlore’s Gordon Thompson 2nd October 2023 /

An Operator’s View: Earthlore’s Gordon Thompson

A new concept fusing conservation, accommodation and tours is on offer from The Catlins operator.


Perspectives: Reimagining Mt Ruapehu as more than a snow sports destination 28th September 2023 /

Perspectives: Reimagining Mt Ruapehu as more than a snow sports destination

Skiing and snowboarding have long been privileged activities but it is time to recognise Mt Ruapehu as a place of cultural and geological wonder.


Wednesday Letter: Govt support essential for attracting major events 27th September 2023 /

Wednesday Letter: Govt support essential for attracting major events

NZ must invest more in large events or it will miss out on their big benefits.


Perspectives: Will taxing short stays boost rental supply? Other policies would achieve more 26th September 2023 /

Perspectives: Will taxing short stays boost rental supply? Other policies would achieve more

NSW plans to raise $75m a year from a new levy on platforms like Airbnb.


Perspectives: Are we finally turning the tide towards sustainable tourism? 25th September 2023 /

Perspectives: Are we finally turning the tide towards sustainable tourism?

Making inroads toward sustainable tourism is possible but will require enormous global effort to make it happen at scale.


Wednesday Letter: Navigating new opportunities 20th September 2023 /

Wednesday Letter: Navigating new opportunities

BEIA’s Lisa Hopkins on the development of a new national strategy for NZ’s business events industry.


Perspectives: Climate change could make holidays look very different 19th September 2023 /

Perspectives: Climate change could make holidays look very different

Travellers could adjust how, when and where they vacation to cope with climate impacts.


An Operator’s View: XPO Exhibitions’ Rebecca Stewart 18th September 2023 /

An Operator’s View: XPO Exhibitions’ Rebecca Stewart

Events have made a strong recovery but it’s been a battle for the business, which saw off Covid and then fought in court to save an Auckland icon.


Perspectives: How one country tackles  overtourism for a more sustainable industry 14th September 2023 /

Perspectives: How one country tackles overtourism for a more sustainable industry

As tourism seeks to become more regenerative, it is equally crucial visitors follow suit.