A long-awaited report on how one of the country's most visited tourist destinations will be managed is due to be released next month and may define its community and the tourism industry.
The masterplan will make Milford Sound Piopiotahi an iconic tourist destination again, Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash says. Photo: 123rf.com
The Milford Sound Opportunities Project was established in 2017 to create a masterplan for Milford Sound Piopiotahi - which before Covid attracted almost one million visitors a year - as well as the Milford corridor and the region surrounding it.
After several years its masterplan will be released next month, aimed at ensuring Milford Sound Piopiotahi, an Unesco World Heritage site, does not return to its pre-Covid state. It also aims to protect Fiordland National Park.
Yesterday the group, headed by Dr Ketih Turner, was allocated $15 million to implement its findings as part of a $200 million tourism support package introduced by the Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash.
He would not be drawn on what could be in the plan, but had a firm view on what he expected in return for the funding.
"This will not be a $15 million talkfest that lasts for years. I am very very keen to see action in the next two years.''
Ideas previously discussed have included limiting visitor numbers to Milford Sound, restricting private vehicles, reducing the number of sightseeing flights and charging international visitors to enter.
"Half the posters that go out around the world show Milford Sound, and what you don't see in those posters are 870,000 tourists, a bus car park, camping ground car parks, and all those things people don't expect to see when they come to Milford Sound.''
Nash said whatever the plan recommended must be implemented in consultation with key stakeholders and local iwi.
Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash Photo: Dom Thomas
"The goal is to turn Milford Sound back into the iconic tourist destination that we go to the world with, so that when people turn up there and they look around and go waho this isn't what i saw on the posters it's about delivering the tourist experience.''
Turner said funding was fantastic news.
"A lot of work has gone into developing a masterplan that will ensure visiting Milford Sound Piopiotahi is a New Zealand experience that showcases our iconic landscapes and contributes to improving the conservation values and creating a special connection for visitors.''
He said there had been broad public engagement on the options being considered but it will be a little longer before the team can provide more specific detail as it is in the last stages of being finalised.
`"We expect to formally provide the final Masterplan and its recommendations to government in the next couple of weeks and to publicly release it in June.''
Great South (the region's promotional body) general manager Bobbi Brown said the group's mandate is to look at how one of the country's iconic destinations is better looked after for New Zealand and the world.
"If that means getting a better system to manage the visitor experience and protect the environment then I support that.''