Tourism

Demonstrate understanding of how a cultural process shapes geographic environments

Tourism Development on Geography of Rotorua → Positive Impacts

Economic

Social/Cultural

Environmental

  • Energy events centre opened in 2007 t opromote year-round business tourism

  • Development of accomodation, facilities, and attractions to support influx of tourists

  • Food services and accomodation sector contributed to employment growth (followed by arts & recreation) as poverty decreases

  • Early government investment creates a self-reinforcing cycle that ensures sustainable long term economic growth.


  • Higher price recreation space use for tourists and cheaper for locals (sometimes free eg museum)

  • Attractions enrich tourists environment

  • Preservation of Maori heritage with new development of cultural attraction working with iwi (Tamaki Tours, Mitai Maori Village, Maori Arts & Crafts centre)

  • Eco-attractions developed

  • Government investment into lake cleanup

  • Treated Effluent (any liquid waste discharged into the environment, typically from industrial facilities, agricultural operations, or municipal sewage treatment plants that is treated) is sprayed on forest for sustainable waste management

  • Close geothermal bores to restore geothermal activities as local businesses were using the geothermal water and energy.

  • Release trout to local rivers to increase wildlife biodiversity

  • Ecological attractions promote sustainability


Tourism Development on Geography of Rotorua → Negative Impacts

Economic

Social/Cultural

Environmental

  • 140 staff of Maori Arts & Craft centre redundant during lockdown as it was 93% reliant on international tourism.

  • Inflationary pressures can reduce discretionary spending (extra spending)

  • Volatility (steep price/asset value changes)

  • Haka & Poi performances shortened for tourist schedules, Toursits don’t remove shoes at Te Puia Marae, pounamu necklaces sold as cheap plastic objects

  • Maori Culture Celebrated but also commodified/tokenised

  • Overtourism/overcowding resulting in increased crime and

  • Water quality (LAWA) trophic level index poor (4.2 out of 5)

  • Tourism has resulted in increased waste disposal, traffic congestion, and pollution.

  • After restoring the geothermal bores released an unpleasant smell which is distasteful for locals and tourists.


New Terms

  • Psychocentric tourist is a traveler who seeks comfort, familiarity, and predictability. Rather than seeking adventure or cultural immersion, they prefer well-established destinations with reliable amenities, structured itineraries, and minimal risk. They are the backbone of the mass tourism industry

  • Allocentric tourist is an adventurous, novelty-seeking traveler who prefers off-the-beaten-path destinations, cultural immersion, and unstructured experiences. Coined in Stanley Plog's psychographic model, they avoid mass tourism in favor of authentic, local interactions and are comfortable with a higher level of risk and unpredictability

  • Urban Agglomeration: An extended town or city area comprising a central core and its continuously built-up suburbs. A collection or mass of disparate/different (people, attractions, facilities) gathered together.