Tourism Unplugged

I have spent the past 20 years in various roles within the tourism sector here in New Zealand.....United Airlines, Tourism New Zealand (in the USA and NZ) and most recently on secondment to Te Puni Kokiri (Ministry of Maori Development) helping the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council.

I formed my own company - Tourism Unplugged Ltd - at the start of August. What's in a name?

Tourism = a cultural exchange between a visitor and a host that leaves both parties enriched with more knowledge and contributes to world peace.
Unplugged = “to free from an obstruction”, raw, unencumbered, revealed, expanded, uncovered.

So, my intention is to serve this definition of tourism unencumbered by the barriers of working for someone else. This allows me to be free to persue my own interests in tourism and to serve it using my skills and experience to the very best of my ability.

This blog, I hope, will encourage discussion on some of the issues that face our sector. It won't go anywhere but it's good letting it out! So - be inspired, unencumbered and frank. Let's explore and give voice to our own thoughts. Who knows, we may change the world!

Tourism - a vehicle for peace

Yeah right! I hear you say. Well think about it though.... a visitor meets a host from another country - they share time together, share thoughts, stories, histories, memories, They connect about family, the world, their homeland, etc. Both the visitor and the host leave enriched,they've connected with another culture, they may have been emotionally or spiritually enlightened, they know more than they did when they arrived and they leave understanding a bit more about the world. All this, in my humble opinion, leaves the world a better place and therefore contributes to world peace.

In the world today, particularly since 9/11, we know people are seeking to return to those values they long ago lost. Engaging with other cultures, particularly indigenous cultures who have often not been so quick to leave those values of old behind, enriches this planet. I don't believe it's any accident that visitors are seeking this authenticity in order to find themselves.

So, to those who think tourism is a crock and is contributing to New Zealand's demise ("I don't want this country overrun with tourists"), I challenge you to think about this. Perhaps the next time you meet a visitor you may see what I mean.

My New Zealand

An Introduction

Tena koe.

I don't know about you but I have some thoughts on what it means to be a kiwi. I was born here, in fact it's the only home my family has known for over 5 generations. Frankly, I'm sick of everyone seeing New Zealand on a fast track to being a third world country.

I lived in the USA for nearly 5 years and know how special this place is to visitors from other countries. We are a relatively young country against the rest of the world - we need to give ourselves a break! I welcome the debate on the Treaty of Waitangi, on being a republic, on race relations, the flag and the myriad of other topics that hit us every day in the news. Why? Because we can - that's what freedom is about.

Now, we know as NZrs, this is the best place on the planet - but the rest of the world doesn't know - in fact they mostly don't give a shit. So I reckon we need to sort our own stuff out, deal to the issues - not by ignoring them but by debating them and finding our common ground - whatever the issues are.

We live in a democracy, that means each vote counts. Nothing will change unless we the people change - that means we need to share our voice, to speak our thoughts and stand up for what we believe. Voting allows us the right to be heard. This blogging thing allows us an opportunity too.

So.... I'm really keen to hear what you think. Go for it!