SHOTOVER: Tourism operators may have to foot the bill to clear a huge unstable slip above Otago’s Shotover River, as neither council involved wants to take action. The slip, about 2km upstream from the Edith Cavell Bridge, has closed a section of the river to the public and forced the suspension of commercial rafting trips for more than a week. The slip continues to steadily collapse, but most of the unstable rock, possibly as much as 100,000 cubic metres, remains balanced... more>

RESORT: Waiheke Island is to have its first five-star resort, with developers saying the $50 million spa will make the island a top international destination for tourists in the South Pacific. Langham Hotels International (LHI) today signed a new management agreement for Langham Place, a five-star boutique Vineyard Resort and Spa on behalf of Isola Estate on Waiheke Island, which is due to open in April 2010. A model of the boutique resort, which has Tuscan-style characteristics, was... more>

NIGHTS: The number of guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation was 5 percent higher in May than a year earlier, possibly partly due to school holiday timing. Releasing the data today, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said the autumn school holidays generally fell entirely in April, but this year they were later than usual, going into the first few days of May. That may have contributed to the increase but the exact effect could not be measured. Contributing to the 2 million... more>

HEALTH: An Auckland company, Medtral Ltd, is setting New Zealand up as a destination for "medical tourists" from affluent countries who want "cheap" operations and other medical procedures. A key shareholder in the company, gynaecologist Edward Watson -- who has been a consultant for pharmaceutical firms including Pfizer and Pharmacia -- told the Washington Post the burgeoning business in conducting drug trials in New Zealand showed the potential for relatively cheap non-urgent surgery.... more>

WORLD CUP: Tourism New Zealand is to run a major tactical campaign in the United Kingdom later this year. Speaking at an event at Parliament today, TNZ chief executive George Hickton said the campaign would be "very different" from others it had run. The government agency’s giant inflatable rugby ball would be installed in London from November 25 to December 2 timed to coincide with the campaign launch. "The first push for Tourism New Zealand’s new UK campaign will end in... more>

NAPIER: Napier’s long-standing tourism drawcard Marineland will close when its last remaining dolphin dies. A Napier City Council meeting yesterday voted to accept mayor Barbara Arnott’s recommendation that Marineland close when 38-year-old Kelly dies, Hawke’s Bay Today reports. Kelly had been a Marineland feature since 1974 and has been the only performing dolphin since 36-year-old Shona died two years ago. Deputy mayor Kathy Furlong said the decision was the right... more>

TOURISM: Financial benefits reaped through the tourism industry grew nearly 5 percent in the year to March 2007, with tourism expenditure passing $20 billion. Tourists spent $20.1 billion in the year to March 2007, according to the Tourism Satellite Account, released today by Statistics New Zealand. This was an increase of $896 million (4.7 percent) from the previous March year. Total tourism expenditure includes spending by both international and domestic tourists. The main products... more>

VISITORS: Short term visitor arrivals eased slightly in May from a year earlier, figures published today by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show. Last month 140,500 short term arrivals were recorded, compared to 140,800 in May, 2007. The number of visitors from China was up 700 or 9 percent, but from the United States numbers were down by 1000 or 8 percent, SNZ said. After 12 months of decline, visitor arrivals from Korea remained largely unchanged last month at 6200, compared with the same... more>

TOURISM: NRMA Motoring & Services, Australia’s largest motoring group, announced a $20 million investment in New Zealand’s tourism and travel industry with the purchase of Thrifty New Zealand, an 85-room hotel in Palmerston North and Adventureworld Travel. NRMA provides roadside assistance and motoring, travel and touring services to its two million members in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The investment announcement in New Zealand follows the... more>

Voluntourism is the latest craze in global travel - a concept where conscious jetsetters get to give a little back to the environments they visit. Mollie McGuigan investigates its arrival in New Zealand. From middle class gap year students teaching in Rwanda to middle aged couples building bridges in Nepal, volunteer projects have become popular with those seeking a more fulfilling holiday. Even Prince William did his share of meaningful tourism, building a school in Chile before he headed... more>