Adventure tourism operators will have to be registered in future as the Government clamps down on safety.
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson announced that the Government would require registration - a key recommendation of a review of the sector released today.
The review was sparked by a letter sent to Prime Minister John Key by the father of drowned English tourist Emily Jordan. Ms Jordan, 21, drowned in Central Otago's Kawarau River in April 2008 after being trapped underwater for 20 minutes while riverboarding.
Queenstown's Mad Dog River Boarding was fined $66,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 in reparation to the Jordan family after admitting two Health and Safety in Employment Act charges.
Ms Jordan's death was one of several tourist fatalities in the past couple of years, including tourists who died while jetboating and quad biking.
The Labour Department report, with input from a prime ministerial steering group, found there were gaps in safety in the sector.
Its key recommendation was compulsory registration.
Other changes included:
- Developing a practice guide for the sector
- Evaluating the voluntary safety auditing schemes for adventure and outdoor commercial sector operations and a register of government-accredited safety auditing schemes
- Clarifying which government agency was responsible for which activities;
- Improving information about operators' current responsibilities
- Expanding the rules-based approach taken under the Maritime Transport Act and the Civil Aviation Act
- Increasing the level of inspection under the Health and Safety in Employment (HSE) Act
The report said action was needed or more people and their families could suffer as well as New Zealand's reputation as a tourist destination.
The Tourism Industry Association is backing the recommendations and says strengthening safety practices will be widely supported.
“We are pleased that the final report recognises that many operators are already operating to high standards, with a strong culture of safety,” says TIA advocacy manager Geoff Ensor.
“We recognise there is always room for improvement and these recommendations are the next step in the evolution of this important sector of New Zealand’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry.”
Mrs Wilkinson said the registration scheme would include safety audits.
"There is support within the sector for a registration scheme for commercial land-based and non-certified water-based activities to ensure all businesses have a strong safety focus," she said.
"For most operators the scheme would include a requirement that an upfront safety audit be obtained based on the risk profile of their business."
Mrs Wilkinson asked the Labour Department to look further at some of the recommendations including setting up an industry-led body to look at a safety management framework for the sector and setting up a register of government-accredited adventure tourism related safety auditing schemes.
The department will also look at whether instructors and guides should be required to hold qualifications and work only within the scope of those qualifications.
The department is to report back by the end of November.
3News/NZPA