Department of Conservation proposes visitor limit on Tongariro Crossing

New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) has advised of a proposal to limit the number of walkers on the Tongariro Crossing.

A DOC meeting held this week at the Whakapapa Visitor Centre outlined a proposal to limit walkers on the Crossing to 800 people per day, with a further proposal to control capacity through a dedicated booking system.

DOC is still working with local business to finalise the details, but the current plan is to implement the trial ahead of the summer season of 2022.

As reported by New Zealand news website Stuff, DOC Operations Director for the Central North Island Damian Coutts said “traversing a dual World Heritage Site and sacred landscape, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the country’s most heavily visited one-day walks.

“Numerous reports and studies over the past two decades have questioned the environmental, cultural and social sustainability of the walk when there are too many people. Some days have seen in excess of 2500 people on the crossing.”

However, local tourism operators are concerned that the restrictions will restrict the industry when it is looking to recover having been hit hard by travel restrictions over the past two years.

For business operators in the local tourism industry, it poses tough questions for an already struggling industry.

Greg Hooper co-owner of the Tongariro Holiday Park, commented "they’re saying to us 800 people, no exceptions.

"In a normal year, we’ll have over 1000 people on the crossing for at least 50 days per year, which includes a big chunk of summer.

“I’m worried that it might mean people who would otherwise come here, don’t turn up. We’re seeing what other accommodation providers are prepared to sell their rooms for and quite honestly, we simply can’t afford to drop any lower.”