by Julie Taylor julie.taylor@dailypost.co.nz
Rotorua' tourism operators have recognised that green is the new black in business.
They now have access to a series of guidelines to help them become more environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable.
Three sets of guidelines have been released by the Government and the Tourism Industry Association to help accommodation, hospitality, transport and visitor activity operators run their businesses sustainably.
Rotorua Novotel Lakeside and Ibis hotels general manager Klaus Gottschalk said the guidelines were a good starting point for accommodation providers starting to consider sustainability. His hotels and the wider Novotel group have been working in this area for years and are confident they will be ready when environmental sustainability is incorporated into the Qualmark star rating system in the future.
"We are very much in favour of this initiative. New Zealand has an image and we need to live up to that," he said. "We will be tested by the consumer."
Mr Gottschalk said many international tourists came from countries that were ahead of New Zealand in dealing with environmental issues and clients wanted to know things like how batteries would be disposed of and whether their rubbish would be recycled, as happened at the Novotel.
Another three sustainability guides are currently being produced looking at Maori tourism, distribution and cultural tourism. Each four-page guide is set out as checklists that businesses can use to identify what they are already doing and where further improvements can be made.
Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor believes sustainability is no longer optional. "To deliver on our 100% Pure image we need to take credible and visible steps to reduce our environmental impact and improve our environmental management ... , " he said.
Rotorua is already well placed to promote sustainable tourism with 10 service providers, 17 accommodation providers and 41 attractions qualifying as members of the Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter. The charter aims to make Rotorua a sustainable destination that conserves natural and human environments, ensures the well-being of the community and tangata whenua and complies with legislation while providing a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors.
Tourism operators go green
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.