With vertiginous snowy peaks, pōhutukawafringed beaches and geothermal areas it’s not hard to see why Aotearoa New Zealand attracts tourists.
In the year ending March 2020, tourism was our largest export industry, representing $16.4 billion, or 5.5 percent of GDP.
Though still only half of pre-pandemic levels, since the border reopened in July 2022, international visitors have been returning in rapid numbers with international arrivals reaching 172,269 in August 2022.
With this new bloom of travellers comes a significant environmental impact. A 2018 study estimated that tourism is responsible for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Construction, energy use, transport, souvenirs, food consumption and waste all impact the local area and global climate.
It’s not all bad news. Done well, tourism can benefit local communities and their economy, raise awareness and funds for wildlife,
