Sustainable Tourism
1. Summary of Case Study ( Chantalle)
Whale Watch Kaikoura- Community Benefit award
Kaikoura is a small community located on the mountainous coast of South Island of New Zealand .The WWK is new Zealand only year round whale watching operator. It was starts by four families in 1987 in an effort to harness unique and rare tourist attraction- the sperm Whale. The WWK was created to create a stable and self-sustaining economic base for Maori Tribe. Revenue was generated through the whale watching ticket sales as they were able to purchase Kaikoura peninsula ( a cultural island mass for Maori cultural preservation). The success of Whale Watching has created a sustainable development in the area of accommodation, dining, tour operations and transport services. WWK employs 70 locals in Moari and is committed to provide professional development for its employees.
In addition to being a 2010 Tourism for tomorrow Community Benefit Award Winner it also is a Qualmark Envrio Gold Accredited – the highest level of sustainable tourism given in New Zealand.
2. Negative Environmental Impacts (Amoy)
The economic downturn and the closing of the rail way depot in the 80’s led to many unemployment problems in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Many residents had to relocate to other parts of New Zealand in search of job opportunities. However, as the Whale Watching initiative began to mature, many residents moved back to Kaikoura in search of new job opportunities. This led to the town being overpopulated. Kaikoura also became a major hub for ecotourist activities, attracting a whopping increase of 3400 tourists during the 1986-1987 year period, to over 150,000 tourists since the Whale Watching initiative to 2010. However, 40 new accommodation facilities were built to facilitate the increase in the town’s population.
Whale watching is an international industry worth more than US$2 billion globally and is currently the greatest economic activity reliant upon cetaceans. However, there
Whale Watch Kaikoura- Community Benefit award
Kaikoura is a small community located on the mountainous coast of South Island of New Zealand .The WWK is new Zealand only year round whale watching operator. It was starts by four families in 1987 in an effort to harness unique and rare tourist attraction- the sperm Whale. The WWK was created to create a stable and self-sustaining economic base for Maori Tribe. Revenue was generated through the whale watching ticket sales as they were able to purchase Kaikoura peninsula ( a cultural island mass for Maori cultural preservation). The success of Whale Watching has created a sustainable development in the area of accommodation, dining, tour operations and transport services. WWK employs 70 locals in Moari and is committed to provide professional development for its employees.
In addition to being a 2010 Tourism for tomorrow Community Benefit Award Winner it also is a Qualmark Envrio Gold Accredited – the highest level of sustainable tourism given in New Zealand.
2. Negative Environmental Impacts (Amoy)
The economic downturn and the closing of the rail way depot in the 80’s led to many unemployment problems in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Many residents had to relocate to other parts of New Zealand in search of job opportunities. However, as the Whale Watching initiative began to mature, many residents moved back to Kaikoura in search of new job opportunities. This led to the town being overpopulated. Kaikoura also became a major hub for ecotourist activities, attracting a whopping increase of 3400 tourists during the 1986-1987 year period, to over 150,000 tourists since the Whale Watching initiative to 2010. However, 40 new accommodation facilities were built to facilitate the increase in the town’s population.
Whale watching is an international industry worth more than US$2 billion globally and is currently the greatest economic activity reliant upon cetaceans. However, there