Interpretation New Zealand

Naumai

So the process continues for a revamp of the adventure tourism sector’s safety standards.

It certainly hasn’t been without it’s moments. The personal attack against an adventure tourism operator’s protests  on the proposed changes by TIA Board member Geoff Gabities wasn’t one of them. Neither were some of the less than helpful comments by some TIA staff about individual operators and  against the sectors vocal interest’s in participating in the debate. Finally the response by DOL was to be expected, way too bureaucratic and again over cooked.

Hopefully the appointment of Jeroen Jongejans to TIA’s  Board as the Adventure Tourism & Outdoor Activities Division
representative will bring some rational sense to the debate.

It is a problem for those that work in Wellington. They tend to forget how small business’s in the outdoor sector work and don’t take on-board how to work with them – these operators aren’t large corporates. One person typically runs the whole business.

The delay in pushing the regulations through with almost unseen haste was inevitable. The Government’s response to the number of recent tragic incidents was too much too soon. Politically they may have been ill advised.

Now there are bigger threats on the horizon. With a lot of Government money floating around the implementation of the new rules the consultants and other organizations are lining up to feed at the trough.

No one seems to have addressed where this whole process will leave the already financially stricken Qualmark.

One would have to say the Outdoors NZ (formerly a small recreation/education orientated organisation) has effectively placed itself in a potentially strong position to do more – to the detriment of other tourism focused organisations such as Qualmark.

Whatever happened to the concept of a one stop shop and single branding entities for tourism? Dilution is not the solution!

Ka kite ano

Malcolm