First read is on us.

Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news.

Is New Zealand doing enough to make its adventure tourism safe?


Skift Take

New Zealand gets a lot of positive press for its tourism and tourism marketing, but this is the dark side it doesn't want you to see.

From bungee jumping to skydiving, jet boats to zip-lining, New Zealand has transformed itself into a magnet for thrill-seekers from around the world, turning adrenalin into a billion dollar industry.

But not everyone walks away from an adventure tourism experience in New Zealand. Over the past eight years at least 50 visitors have died when things went dreadfully wrong. Many more have suffered crippling injuries.

Of course, many of these white-knuckle pursuits are dangerous but is New Zealand doing enough to ensure that companies and individuals selling these thrills to a wide-eyed crowd are playing by the rule-book - and is that rule-book as comprehensive as it should be?

Many think not.

The full 25 minute AlJazeera documentary is embedded below:

Up Next

Hotels

How Data Quality Issues Impact Global Hospitality Operations

There are wide discrepancies in data quality for hotel transactions across global regions, with the largest occurring in Asia-Pacific. Because hotels and agencies need to harness data quality to thrive, they must take a more nuanced regional approach to monitoring potential issues.
Sponsored
Tourism

America's National Parks May Face Summer Worker Shortage

The U.S. National Parks Service hasn't seen staffing increase in tandem with surging visitation at many locations. The Trump's Administration's rescinding of job offers to temporary workers, plus other actions, may compromise the ability of rangers to manage crowds this summer.