Tourism industry supports proposed camping fines

Tourism industry supports proposed camping fines
Plans to fine campers staying in areas where freedom camping is not permitted are supported by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA), as long as fines are used “sparingly and wisely”.

In its submission to the Freedom Camping Bill, TIA says that pressure has been growing to establish a nationally consistent enforcement regime that can be used to fine campers who deliberately ignore local information and camp in places or ways that are not acceptable to the community.

“We want to see fines used as a tool to deter bad behaviour. Used sparingly and wisely, a nationally consistent enforcement regime will help remove community tension that has grown from a sense of powerlessness when campers have ignored local advice,” TIA Advocacy Manager Geoff Ensor says.

Mr Ensor chairs the New Zealand Responsible Camping Forum which brings together New Zealand’s leading campervan companies, the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, local government representatives, government agencies and tourism organisations.

The Forum is behind the ‘Where can I camp?’ campaign which provides camping information to travellers hiring campervans or wanting to camp in New Zealand. It has also developed the www.camping.org.nz website which offers comprehensive information on camping in New Zealand.

“It is accepted by Forum members that some degree of enforcement will be required, but we strongly believe that strong, clear and targeted camping information is the cornerstone for achieving responsible camping practices in New Zealand,” Mr Ensor says.

The Forum worked closely with local government to develop the Freedom Camping Bill which will help councils better manage camping in their areas.

To read TIA’s submission on the Freedom Camping Bill, go to www.tianz.org.nz/main/environmental

For more information on the New Zealand Responsible Camping Forum, visit www.tianz.org.nz/main/nz-freedom-camping-forum

ENDS

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