Tourism
New Zealand’s tourism industry has continued to benefit from increasing visitor numbers from a diverse range of countries of origin. Increased visitor numbers coupled with welcoming host communities has driven tourism to become an important industry for New Zealand’s economy, with many entrepreneurs, investors and local communities benefiting.
Southland’s Key Selling Points
Southland is an extremely diverse region with natural attractions ranging from the world famous fiords and snow capped mountains in the west, to the internationally significant wetlands in the east. The diversity of the landscape and the surrounding coastal marine environment make critical habitats for many unique species of flora and fauna which are rarely found elsewhere in New Zealand, let alone the world. Many of these areas and species are protected through the careful management of teh Department of Conservation, who also take a role in promoting appreciation and providing recreation opportunities. Southland boasts two National Parks, and a range of other protected areas. The iconic Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park (part of Te Waipounamu World Heritage Area) is one of New Zealand's most well recognised tourism destinations, with high numbers of package holiday day trippers experiencing scenic cruises, and a number of visitors undertaking scenic flights in the area.
Rakiura National Park is located on Stewart Island, where viewing the Kiwi in the wild is possible along with many other rare bird species. Within Southland there are several emergin destinations which will undoubtedly experience increased visitor numbers in the future. Example include the internationally significant Awarua/Waituna Wetlands, the Humpridge Track, the Catlins, Stewart Island and recently established walking tracks such as Longhilly walking track near Riverton (which is one end of a walking track along the length of NZ).
Southlands urban centres (including Invercargill, Gore and Te Anau) also attract visitors for sporting events, conferences, attractions, cultural events, and heritage appreciation opportunities. Top class facilities such as Stadium Southland, the Velodrome, Rugby Park Stadium, Splash Palace, the Gore Multisport Complex, incorporating ice skating, Fiordland Community, Stewart Island events centres and Teretonga are all ideal venues for hosting national and international sporting events.
Opportunities
There are opportunities to take advantage of a diversifying market mix by basing tourism activities around Southland’s unique selling points, developing new attractions, creating new events or expanding upon the existing base of support services. Some examples of activities which already take place in a variety of locations within Southland are; guided walks, bird watching, kayaking, scenic flights, boat cruises, cycling, fishing, hunting, climbing, diving and golf. There is increasing demand for both outdoor and in particular all weather attractions.