Nature tourism on Banks Peninsula: issues and perceptions of people from the rural community

Abstract

In New Zealand, nature-based tourism has existed for a long time (imagine the early visitors to Tongariro National Park and Whakarewarewa). Our nature tourism market is affected by the significant increase world-wide in natural history tourism since 1980 (mentioned by Lindberg and Hawkins, 1993, p.32). In parts of the world, ecotourism has emerged from the same basis as nature tourism, but it is significantly different in its focus on environmental commitment and responsibility for the welfare of local communities.