KEY POINTS:
A warning from the Dutch Government is putting tourists off visiting New Zealand, a tour operator says.
The Dutch Government is warning tourists travelling to New Zealand of "serious crime" after a second Dutch tourist was raped in the space of two years.
A 22-year-old woman was attacked
two weeks ago as she and her 25-year-old partner slept in their station wagon at the Five Mountains Holiday Park in Tuatapere, west of Invercargill.
Police have arrested a 25-year-old man in relation to the attack.
A new heading - "Serious Crime" - has now been added to the New Zealand travel advice page on the Dutch Government website.
The CEO of campervan rental company Jucy, Tim Alpe, said the negative press on the attack is putting Dutch tourists off travelling to New Zealand and the company has already had three cancellations this week.
"All have been Dutch and all have commented to reservation staff that it has been because of their concerns for security," Mr Alpe said.
He said the Government needed to look at harsher sentences for people who attack tourists because the attacks have an impact on the whole society.
Loosely translated, the Dutch Government's warning on their travel website says although serious crime does not happen often, the number of robberies is increasing and campers are being targeted.
The Dutch travel advice warns campers to use official camping sites and not to park up in the "wild".
The site also mentions the rape of the Dutch woman last week as well as an attack in 2006.
"So many kiwis rely on tourism for jobs and when the Dutch Government adds a heading "Serious Crime" to its travel advice page, it's time that the Government got really serious about cracking down on these thugs who think tourists are a soft target," Mr Alpe said.
"One of the great things that New Zealand has always been able to boast is that you can park by any river, lake or scenic spot and stay the night in safety. It's a tragedy when a few criminals ruin it for everyone."
He said his company was encouraging campers to use camp grounds, or if camping out, park where they can drive off easily and lock the doors at night.
"We need Tourism New Zealand and the Government to reassure the Dutch Government that we are a safe place to visit and, like anywhere in the world, be careful and be aware," Mr Alpe said.
The Dutch warning has not affected two other companies.
United Campervans director, Kay Howe, said since January 12 there have been no cancellations from the Dutch market and reservations continue to come in.
She said she has been in contact with the company's agent in Europe and had not had any feedback or questions on security.
Maui, Britz, Backpacker and Explore More marketing manager Kate Meldrum said her companies had also not experienced cancellations.
She said she had just been through the records and there had not been any cancellations.
According to statistics from Tourism New Zealand, from the year ending November, 2008 there has been a 2.5 per cent drop-off in Dutch visitors. There was also a 2 per cent drop between 2007 and 2006.
However, it isn't only the Dutch numbers that are down. For example, visitors from the UK were down 3.4 per cent in the year ending November 2008 and up 1.4 per cent in the previous year.
Keith Anthony McEwen and Christopher Mana Manuel are serving prison sentences for the rape of a Dutch woman who was attacked with her partner in a campervan, west of Paihia in 2006.
