23 November 2004 New Era Dawns for Tourism

Green Globe 21 Certification for Kaikoura opens a new era for tourism development in New Zealand, says Lincoln University's Professor of Tourism, David Simmons.

Speaking after the Certification presentation at Kaikoura today – which makes the northern South Island community the first township in the world to gain Green Globe 21 status – Professor Simmons said that the old one-dimensional approach to tourism of simply managing ever-increasing numbers was over.

"It is recognised now – and Kaikoura is showing the way – that tourism is a multi-dimensional activity and that the emphasis needs to shift to the structures that support it, such as the environment, the social and cultural networks, as well as the financial bottom line."

The Green Globe 21 Standard is an internationally recognised environmental benchmarking, certification and improvement system for sustainable travel and tourism and it is based on the United Nations' Agenda 21 Principles for Sustainable Development.

In achieving this certification Kaikoura is showing the rest of New Zealand a new, sophisticated view of sustainability.

Many organisations and institutions have backed Kaikoura in its progress towards Green Globe 21 Certification.

Professor David Simmons' connection with the sustainability of Kaikoura's tourist industry goes back to 1998 and a Government-funded study he led examining the impact of visitor growth on the town and it’s environmental, social, cultural and commercial resources.

Since the introduction of the Green Globe 21 Standard in 2001, Lincoln University, Landcare Research, and more recently Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing and Environment Canterbury (ECAN) have been working with it under the "Environmental Benchmarking Programme" for tourism businesses in the Canterbury region.

ECAN has allocated over $100,000 to the Green Globe project over the past three years and its commitment is based on the fact that the Green Globe 21 Standard addresses over half of the regional authority's 12 portfolios of responsibility, including air quality, water quality and quality of ecosystems, and energy efficiency.

One key objective for the use of the ECAN funding has been to engage a number of Kaikoura tourist-based businesses in the benchmarking and certification process. Project Manager Michael Shone of Lincoln University says that the success of this particular objective has been enhanced by the supportive attitude of the Kaikoura District Council.

The collaborative nature of the achievement of certification has been emphasised by Kaikoura District Council's Environment Officer, Ian Challenger.

"Being the first local authority in the world to be certified is not something that the Council could achieve by itself."

"It is a joint effort really between partners like Lincoln University, Landcare Research, Environment Canterbury and Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing," says Mr Challenger.

"On behalf of the future generations who will benefit from what we have achieved today it's a combined effort that we can all take pleasure in."

Professor David Simmons, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand