Stakeholder attitudes towards tourism and the environment: the case of Tongariro River Delta

Abstract

New Zealand is perfectly placed to take advantage of the increasing worldwide demand for nature based tourism activities. However, in pursuing this market we must be careful not to endanger or compromise the natural resource base of the country. To create more sustainable forms of tourism development it is vital that we understand the needs and expectations of the various stakeholders involved in the tourism industry. This research focuses on the Tongariro River Delta (TRD) location, a destination with relatively little tourism development to date, but with the potential for considerable growth in the future. The research adopts a case study approach in looking at tourism and the environment from a stakeholder perspective. Semi-structured interviews are used to gather participant attitudes and perceptions on a range of issues concerning the Delta. The study focuses on the attitudes of government agencies and community towards tourism and development. The findings of this research indicate a strong environmental ethic among those surveyed. The overall attitude towards tourism and tourism development is favourable, although much depends on the scale and type of development. The participants indicated that stakeholder interaction had historically been poor, however the situation is acknowledged to have been improving recently. But, there are still a number of unresolved issues, mainly with respect to land ownership, which require attention. This research will serve as a baseline for further exploration into stakeholder attitudes and the resources that tourism utilises in the TRD. Many of the issues discussed in this research are not specific to the Delta and reflect issues in other parts of the country and world. Additionally, the methodology used may prove helpful in future studies, as there is a need for more qualitative research into the conflicts and commonalties that may exist when tourism development occurs.