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Tourism operators in New Zealand are cashing in a new breed of international traveller - those who volunteer for conservation work during their holidays.
The tourists pay for the privilege of pulling weeds, building and maintaining tracks, monitoring endangered species or working in forests.
Tourism New Zealand said for some an indulgent holiday soaking up the sun was not enough and the new breed of tourist wanted to make their holidays count.
The new venture was called "voluntourism" and was based on the Volunteer Service Abroad concept, said Tourism New Zealand in the latest issue of its magazine Tourism News.
It involved tourists paying "sometimes quite considerable sums to spend their holiday working on community and environmental projects around the world".
Late last year a survey of American tourists found 24 per cent wanted a volunteer or service-based vacation.
It said the focus of many voluntourism expeditions was in third world countries but New Zealand was growing in popularity.
In Auckland tourists could pay $1115 for a two-week package which included meals and "hostel-type accommodation" and involved work in conservation projects in Auckland.
The company said the stunning environment the volunteers worked in was a huge attraction for people interested in conservation.
Most of the voluntourists came from United Kingdom, America, Australia or Ireland.
Another package cost $4800 for two weeks. It included four-star accommodation, environmental conservation work in the Catlins in south Otago, visits to the Albatross colony in Otago Harbour, Queenstown and Doubtful Sound, and scenic flights, hiking and jet boat trips.
On the Coromandel Peninsula one company said it had hosted hundreds of volunteers at its Tararu Valley Sanctuary, mostly from Europe. They included a Slovakian couple who spent their eight-week honeymoon at the sanctuary working on sustainable production, and rainforest restoration, with adventure recreation days which included kayaking, rock climbing, yoga and meditation.
The operators said the voluntourists believed they were doing something which benefited themselves and the environment.
Many left the projects they had worked on in tears, knowing they would "never have another chance to return to such a paradise," said one operator.
Others returned for a second time "just to touch base and see how their trees are growing".
- NZPA
