Page 317 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

294 Oceania

way); however visitors are asked to maintain the Table 19.1 The value of the New Zealand tourism
springs’ tapu or sacredness by not visiting them; industry in 2007 and 2009
good views can be enjoyed from the track. The Indicator 2007 2009
other active geothermal area on Tongariro is Red
Crater, with some steam release. The access to Red Inbound 2.5 million 2.4 million
Crater, although not difficult, involves a three Outbound 1.9 million 1.9 million
hour walk (one way) over mountain terrain
(Williams, 1998), and the visitor information on Domestic tourism (nights) N/A 18.9 million
risk suggests that walkers should be suitably International guest nights N/A 13.3 million
experienced and equipped parties only and obtain
up-to-date environmental information from the Total guest nights 32.2 million 32.2 million
local ski-village visitor centre before beginning Domestic tourism 11.3 billion –
their walk. expenditure NZD
Thanks to its spectacular volcanic background,
to a diversity of landscapes and ecological units, to International tourism 8.8 billion –
expenditure*
NZD
good tracks and an excellent network of huts, the
park therefore offers superb yet relatively easy Total tourism expenditure 20.1 billion –
NZD
walking for tourists. The Tongariro Northern
Circuit is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks Contribution to GDP 7.9 billion –
(5.1%)
(Department of Conservation, 2009), and attracted
over 5000 hikers in 2008. A shorter version of it, Indirect value added 6.2 billion –
NZD
the Tongariro Crossing, has been described as
‘New Zealand’s finest day walk’. When done in Full-time employee 108,100 –
clear weather both offer spectacular views of the equivalents
volcanic landscape traversed, as well as of the International tourism as 18.3% –
surrounding country, plateau, ranges and lakes. A % of total exports
longer walk of up to six days, the Round the Note: *Includes spending by foreign students.
Mountain circuit leads the visitor through the Source: Tourism Satellite Account, 2007; Statistics New Zealand, 2008
diversity of landscapes that stretch down the sides
of Ruapehu: from wet rainforest and extensive
bogs dominated by lofty lava cliffs and waterfalls Table 19.2 Tourism value by region 2009
in the south-western quarter, through the desolate
fields of volcanic ashes and scoria of the Rangipo Region % Total visitor % Domestic % International
Desert in the east, and into shrub lands and nights visitor nights visitor nights
tussock lands further north.
Among the most significant one-day walks are Auckland 17 16 19
the walks to the summits of the three large Christchurch 13 12 16
volcanoes. Other forms of tourism are found in
the three skifields constructed on the sides of Wellington 6 7 5
Ruapehu, which offer the best downhill skiing in Queenstown 10 6 14
the North Island, white-water rafting on the
Tongariro River, mountain biking on Ruapehu, Rotorua 5 5 6
licensed fishing spots, and hunting (deer, pigs and Dunedin 3 3 3
goats). When the conditions are right, usually in
late winter and spring, the park also offers good Taupo 3 4 2
opportunities for ski-touring, on Ruapehu as well Nelson 3 4 3
as Ngauruhoe.
Overall, Aotearoa-New Zealand’s tourism Other Regions 40 43 32
industry contributed some 8 billion dollars or Source: Destination Rotorua, 2009

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