Achieving long term sustainability of iconic tourism destinations through management planning: A comparison of the management of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi New Zealand, and Windermere, Lake District National Park, United Kingdom.
National parks are established for conservation of natural environments in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Successful management of national parks requires a balance of social, economic and environmental factors in order to maintain national park values
Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is an economically important tourism destination located in and adjacent to Fiordland National Park in New Zealand. Peak time visitor use impacts on anticipated visitor experiences. Legislation, central government support and direction, stakeholder pressure, an uncoordinated management approach, and a lack of defined values for the area restrict successful management. To achieve sustainable management, coordinated action is required by management agencies to balance factors impacting on social, economic and environmental factors.
With differing influences on social, economic and environmental factors in the United Kingdom, management direction differs from that in New Zealand. Differential influences include legislation determining the managing agency as the local planning authority. Stakeholder involvement rather than participation also benefits successful future management.
Having identified issues at Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, managing agencies have enacted the Fiordland Integrated Coastal Management Programme, a Local Agenda 21 style approach that works with stakeholders to develop agreed values and objectives for holistic management of this iconic tourism destination.
Stewart Genery has completed the dissertation requirement for a Master of Environmental Planning (MEP) at the University of Waikato. Stewart has been a conservation planner with the Southland Conservancy of the Department of Conservation, where he was closely involved with the development of the Fiordland National Park Management Plan. He may be contacted by email at: stewartgenery@yahoo.com
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