A Stunning Playground Under Pressure

Before even touching down in Queenstown, it's clear why hundreds of thousands of Australians travel there every year. Snow-topped mountains stretch across the horizon—a panorama that becomes a playground once you land.

Queenstown's beauty and adventurous offerings attract about 3 million overseas visitor nights each year. For a town of about 50,000 residents, that's a lot. On peak days in summer, the population can more than double in size.

While tourism is the backbone of the town's economy, having so many people pass through comes with consequences. And now, some locals are speaking out.

Locals Sound the Alarm

The influx of visitors is putting pressure on housing, traffic congestion, and the environment, culminating in an increasingly negative attitude towards tourists.

In June, a report prepared for Tourism New Zealand on the country's views on tourism showed the Otago and Southland region, in which Queenstown lies, has the lowest approval rates in the country.

Otago regional councillor Alexa Forbes says the tourism issue is akin to a "herd of elephants in the room", but many community members are afraid to publicly complain because their livelihoods rely on the industry.

"I think we're into some version of overtourism now," — Alexa Forbes

At the crux of the problem is infrastructure that's unable to keep up.

"It's just too hard for the small local ratepayer base to cope with that sort of growth," — Alexa Forbes

Businesses Feel the Shift

Not far from the airport, Annika Grant runs a property that houses a range of shops selling local goods. She's well aware of the benefits tourists bring to businesses and the community, but she, too, is worried about the risk of overtourism.

Ms Grant says the rise of tourism has pushed many local businesses out of the main downtown area and replaced them with luxury and chain stores.

She advocates for a more sustainable tourism model, one that attracts travellers who stay longer and immerse themselves in the culture, rather than large groups who only stay a night or two.

A Country Built on Travellers

Tourism is New Zealand's second-largest export, behind dairy. In an effort to boost it further, the government has been spruiking New Zealand's beauty to the world, including through an advertising campaign targeting Australians—its biggest overseas market.

As the country recovers from recession and faces a climbing unemployment rate, tourism is helping to prop up the economy.

Industry Leaders Weigh In

Chief executive of Destination Queenstown, Mat Woods, says he does not think the town is at risk of overtourism, but acknowledges the need to maintain community approval.

"We have these incredible facilities, whether it's these amazing ski fields or cafes that you would never see in a town that only has 50,000 people," — Mat Woods

Paul Anderson, head of NZSki, which operates three ski fields surrounding Queenstown, says the snow effectively helps to employ 9,000 people. Locals also benefit from the investment in skiing infrastructure, made possible by tourists.

"But there's no doubt that does need to be really carefully managed, particularly the roads," — Paul Anderson

A Global Challenge

Overtourism has become a talking point globally, especially in Europe, where summer months attract hordes of holiday-makers. Residents of Barcelona have protested in the streets, while Venice has moved to cap tour group sizes.

Closer to home, Byron Bay has felt the consequences, with high demand for short-term rentals making it harder for locals to find housing.

Searching for Solutions

The New Zealand government is working with the regional council on a funding deal to support better infrastructure, but geography poses constraints.

One solution under consideration is a gondola between the airport and town to help reduce road traffic.

"I don't think there needs to be a limit on tourism," — Mat Woods