Spills taint thrills

By LUCY BENNETT

Tourists looking for thrills in New Zealand want a little bang for their buck, but they don't expect to be in hospital.

But researchers say that is happening to increasing numbers of tourists - as many are injured in leisure activities as in road accidents.

Dr Tim Bentley, manager of the Centre for Occupational Human Factors and Ergonomics, based in Auckland and Rotorua, says tourists are being exposed to real danger and tour operators need to better identify and control risks.

Bentley, who comes from Britain, says New Zealanders have a "she'll be right" attitude towards tourism activities.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the time that's nice, but it's the 1 per cent of the time there's a safety issue that it's not that great."

A 30-year-old Thai tourist was badly injured last week at Fox Glacier after she ignored Department of Conservation warning signs and a safety barrier and was crushed by an icefall.

Though she was not part of an "adventure" tourism group, there was a lesson in it for tour operators, Bentley said.

Bentley and David Chalmers, of Otago University, who have made a study for Massey's Centre of Tourism Research, say that New Zealand could become known as an unsafe destination.

Most major operations such as jetboating, whitewater rafting and scenic flights had codes of practice. Smaller operations - where far more people were injured - such as horse trekking, mountain-biking and quad-biking usually had only voluntary codes.

Bentley would like to see that changed.

"We are not good at controlling the risk, clearly, because there are a lot of injuries. There is a need to look more closely at situations where there are a lot of injuries, but nothing in codes of practice or regulations to direct operators to properly control the risks."

In August the Adventure Tourism Council instigated a horse-trekking quality standard to be given a trial by tourism industry auditors Qualmark.

Council chairman Greig Caigou said the council, Qualmark and the Tourism Industry Association were working to ensure that other adventure sector standards were Qualmark-ready.

Rafting, jetboating, sea-kayaking and all-terrain vehicle operators have put together their own standards and eco-tourism and adventure cycling operators have drafted their recommendations.

Dr Bentley said lack of communication between operators and tourists, particularly where English was a second language, contributed to a high injury rate.

Tourists were often willing to take risks themselves, but that did not absolve operators from their responsibilities.

"People need to better understand the changing New Zealand conditions. Even if you are experienced in other countries, it's different in New Zealand."

Bentley said the bad publicity that followed accidents could have far-reaching effects on the economy.

"In the United States and Japan, people are already being advised not to come here because of the dangers. Tourism is our principal industry and these accidents are making a massive impact."

Australian travel agent Carolyn Pike is warning clients about jetboats in New Zealand after she broke a leg when a Queenstown jetboat hit a rock wall.

In another accident, a Japanese honeymooner died and 11 passengers were injured when a jetboat crashed on the Shotover River.

As a result of those accidents and others in the past year, the commercial jetboat industry is to be reviewed by the Maritime Safety Authority.

The Tourism Industry Association said all adventure tourism carried some risk but tourists could ensure their safety by sticking to the rules.

"There are risks in all sorts of tourism all around the world," spokesman Simon King said.

"The rules are always the same whether you're skiing in Austria or looking at the Fox Glacier.

"You stick to the routes, you obey all the signs, and if you have a guide you make sure you listen."

- NZPA