11 Jun 2020

DoC refusing to lower fees for small tourism operators

From Morning Report, 8:36 am on 11 June 2020

Small tourism operators using Department of Conservation land say the department is refusing to reduce their fees, despite them losing nearly all their visitors.

Businesses who use DOC land have to pay a variety of fees, but with no one coming to visit the areas, they say they're struggling to come up with the funds.

At the same time the government is spending $400 million on a Tourism Recovery Fund to support businesses struggling in the wake of the pandemic.

Mary Hobbs and her husband Charlie operate glacier tours and a cafe at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park - but their pleas for reduced fees are being refused.

Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage speaks to Kim Hill.