Latest news with #Dault
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Love Taupō Supports New Visitor Charges
Press Release – Destination Great Lake Taupo Love Taup General Manager Patrick Dault believes the extra funding provided will deliver positive results for regional tourism for both visitors and locals. Love Taupō supports the Government's announcement of a plan to charge overseas visitors for the privilege of visiting some of New Zealand's most iconic and popular conservation areas. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of four high-visit conservation locations featured in the initial scheme. Revenue gathered by these visitor charges will go back into Department of Conservation work at the same locations. Love Taupō General Manager Patrick Dault believes the extra funding provided will deliver positive results for regional tourism for both visitors and locals. 'More money to sustainably manage our treasured conservation estate is a positive for every Kiwi because we all get to benefit from a safe and healthy environment,' Dault says. 'Any investment in improving and developing new infrastructure on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing should be good news for both visitors and local communities as it will ultimately offer an enhanced experience.' 'A large proportion of our international visitors visit the region for the purpose of exploring the Unesco World Heritage Park and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing remains one of the destination drivers.' adds Dault. 'This aligns perfectly with Te Ihirangi — the Taupō Regional Destination Management Plan, a common vision for a more regenerative approach to tourism. It puts people and place, communities and the environment first, ensuring tourism adds true value to the destination.' The watchout for the tourism sector, he said, would always be the challenge of keeping costs within the reach of visitors. While a small extra charge might not be much for some market segments, it could represent a deterrent for a different group. The Government is looking initially at applying charges to four locations: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Cathedral Cove/Te Whanganui-a-Hei, the Milford Track and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Foreign visitors account for up to 80% of visitors to these places. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the charges would range from $20 to $40 per person, with the goal of raising up to $62 million per year to be reinvested directly into those same areas. Entry for New Zealanders would remain free. Up to 105,000 visitors used some, or all, of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the 2023/24 season (1 October 2023 to 8 April 2024), according to the Department of Conservation. Booking data shows that 80% were international visitors. Up to 1500 to 2000 people visited the track on the busiest days.*
Scoop
01-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Backing Our Backyard: Love Taupō Backs New Regional Event Opportunity
Love Taupō welcomes Air New Zealand's Regional Event Sponsorship programme. Air New Zealand has announced a new sponsorship opportunity to promote stand-out regional events. The Regional Event Sponsorship programme is a collaboration with local tourism organisations in the regional destinations served by Air New Zealand. With more than 400 events annually, Taupō is 'sitting pretty' for inclusion, according to Destination Great Lake Taupō general manager, Patrick Dault. 'Taupō is undoubtedly the self-proclaimed events capital of New Zealand,' Dault says. 'Events are a strong draw card for the region and Destination Great Lake Taupō is excited to collaborate with Air NZ in bringing our emerging and new events to the eyes and ears of our domestic and internal audiences.' The airline will prioritise events that are new or emerging, help stimulate visitation outside peak periods, and align with the principles of sustainable tourism and the Tiaki Promise. The goal is to support events that create value not just for visitors, but for the communities that host them.
