Professor Simon Milne was interviewed by Television Hawke's Bay about an innovative research project through online survey on tourist satisfaction and experiences in Hawke's Bay as a tourist attraction. The two web-based low season and high season visitor surveys aimed at capturing insight from visitors' experience and the impact on product development for the region.

Abstract: Tourism has significant social impacts on tourism-receiving countries particularly in Asia. What happens to local communities when they become tourism destinations? How much of the economic benefit of tourism is received by the local people? What does tourism do to the environment? This presentation addresses these issues in the context of developing a Code of Ethics for tourism.

Abstract: Various attributes are known to influence delegates’ decisions to attend professional exhibitions. This paper uses data drawn from a self-administered internet-based questionnaire to identify which attributes enhance the probability of repeat, future attendance by delegates who are and who are not very satisfied with the current exhibition.

The Puhoi to Pakiri region stretches from Puhoi in the south to Pakiri in the north, and includes Leigh, Matakana, Mahurangi and Warkworth. It has experienced rapid development both as a tourism and lifestyle destination over recent years. Research is under way to gather information to inform a tourism development plan for the area. The research is being conducted by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) based at AUT University, local tourism and business stakeholders, and Rodney District Council. The project team aims to draft a sustainable, five year strategic tourism development plan for the region.

Professor Simon Milne was in the news reported by Hawke's Bay Today for NZTRI project in helping the Hawke's Bay region improve visitor experiences. An online survey to be launched in August through http://www.hawkesbaysurvey.co.nz website will ask visitors’ demographic information and their touristic experiences in the Hawke’s Bay region.

Professor Milne said Venture Hawke's Bay's approach was "innovative and cutting-edge" compared to other regions in New Zealand.

Abstract: Focussing primarily on the opportunities for further research this describes hotel managers’ views about how ICT fits within their business. Drawing on interviews with a group of Auckland hotel managers it examines their perceptions of the most important issues facing their business and how ICT interacts with these. In a business where there is high staff turnover, how does complex software with high training needs fit?

Abstract: The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) Statement of Intent 2009-2012 explicitly adopts – for the first time – the central premise “…that conservation is an economic investment, not simply a ‘social good’ cost…” because “…sound management of our natural areas produces the life-sustaining ecosystem services on which our lifestyle and prosperity depend.” The key imperative of the Statement of Intent is to give meaning to the term, ‘the conservation economy’, by achieving social, economic and environmental gains from “…the interdependen

NZTRI Associate Director Dr. John Hull, along with Laura Jodice from Clemson University's International Institute for Tourism Research and Development in the USA have just completed a study examining the interest of local tourism businesses in developing a positive relationship with the marine farming industry as part of the Marine Farming Association's (MFA) Top of the South Aquaculture and Seafood Trail.

 Rugby World Cup 2011 is expected to attract about 85,000 additional visitors, and generate about $500 million in direct economic benefit. About 17% of Kiwis report a disability, and a similar number occurs in other rugby-mad nations, so we can expect that at least some of our visitors will fall into this group. But are we going to be able to cater for their needs?

Veroniek Maat and Sandra Rhodda published an article in Tourism Business Magazine last month. Please read the full article by downloading the attachment below (scan of the article and word document).