Introduction
To begin with, there is a strong necessity to mention that tourism in New Zealand is one of the largest income sources. Originally, it is often regarded as the Green Adventure Playground, as the tourism industry of this country offers numerous opportunities for leisure, recreation, and various activities. The fact is that New Zealand can attract a wide range of potential visitors. These means are ranging from whale watching up to extreme activities like bungee jumping.
The tourist routes are suitable for family travel, traveling of organized groups, as well as single traveling with “discovering” savage life of the domestic fauna.
Details of the Route
First, it should be stated that all the possible touristic ways start from the arrival point, i.e. from the Auckland Airport. The fact is that the agencies, which deal with the tourism industry in New Zealand recommend several routes. All of them are featured with the attracting sightseeing and may be classified into driving and hiking. Surely, driving routes are filled with more places of interest, and are essentially longer. The route, which should be selected for a class should be driving, as it presupposes less equipment and luggage. The optimal variant is the Royal Tour, which follows the DHL Lions Series or takes Billy Connolly’s New Zealand-wide tour.
The prominence of this route may be confirmed by the fact that in 2002 Helen Clark – the Prime Minister spent five days on this route, and stayed absolutely amused and charmed with the sightseeing. Originally, this route was originated after his visit to DHL Lions Series.
Food for the Journey
The food, which all the participants of the journey should take will be dry, caloric, and with a sufficient expiry date. The fact is that the food, which is generally suitable for tourism are the dried crust, foods of quick preparation, canned food, and, surely, water. Taking into consideration that the group will be passing numerous streams of spring water, the reserves of water for the journey may be reduced, thus, the person, responsible for refilling these reserves should be appointed. Tourist routes in New Zealand are featured with small cafes and restaurants, thus, the groups will not be starving during the journey, and anyway, some food for snacks should be taken.
The norms for a person per day are the following:
Bread – 500 g. or crusts – 250 g. grains (millet, oatmeal) – 200-250 g. Part of the grains may be replaced with potatoes (250 g of grains – 1 kg of potatoes). Pasta – 50 g. Butter – 50 g. Meat (may be purchased during the tour, or taken canned) – 100 g. Eggs – 50g of dried omelet. Milk – (purchased during the tour) – 200 g. Sugar – 150 g. Salt, pepper, other spices, and tea – 30 g each.
Surely, these are the average norms. The real norm will be defined during the journey, and all the necessary corrections will be made during the tour.
Risk Management
The risk management issues are generally linked with the safety and health of all the participants of the journey. Surely, the route is adapted for the widest authority, and it is free of any potential dangers, nevertheless, there is a strong necessity to take into consideration the possibility of cold, trauma, wild animals, insects, and snakes.
Previous to the journey, the flora and fauna of the route (and of the region in general) should be studied, to know what antidotes should be taken. A person, responsible for health issues and medical care of the group should be appointed.
Risk management mainly covers the issues, associated with health. Thus, the first aid kit should be present. Only the most important and necessary items should be taken.
The standard first-aid kit entails the following:
- Sterile bandage
- Cotton Wool
- Iodine
- Sterile and bactericide patches
- Paper napkins
- Spirit
The following medicaments should be taken:
- Anti-fever
- Painkillers
- Spray against rhinitis
- Purgatives
- Pills against diarrhea
- Antibiotics
- Anti-allergy pills
- Cream for treating burns
- Cream for reducing itch
- Sunscreen
- Sleeping pills
- thermometer
- Seasick pills
- Dental floss
- Clothing and Equipment
The fact is that the weather in New Zealand is rather changing. Even though geographic location of the country is the South Pacific, the weather and climate are far from tropical. The weather is rather changing, and New Zealanders call it “four seasons in one day”, thus, it will be ridiculous to neglect the issue of clothing. The participants should be prepared for any weather, and clothing should suit any condition and any weather. Frosty morning may turn into a sunny warm day, while rain may turn into snow.
The hiking tour, as well as a driving one, presupposes that everyone has their own equipment and reserve clothes. Thus, there are general recommendations for the journeys and tours. Everyone should have:
Two changes of the underwear; training suit; a shirt of dense textile; a raincoat; 1 – 2 sweaters and a warm jacket with a hood; rubbed cloak for defending a suit bag from rain; 3 – 4 pairs of socks; cap.
Spoon, cup, bowl, knife, matches in vacuum packing, compass, watch. For saying overnight: sleeping bag or blanket.
Any journey requires a photo camera. The photographer should also have a notebook with an automatic pen.
Contingency
All the contingencies should be considered in the risk management chapter, especially those, which relate the health issues, and the contingencies, associated with weather surprises may be minimized by looking through the weather forecasts. Surely, it is impossible to oversee all the possible and impossible contingencies, thus, the group should be prepared for any emergency, the route should presuppose the possibility of emergency call and evacuation of a person or persons in the case of urgent necessity.
If the weather is not suitable for continuing the travel, the group may stay in one of the middle points, and then continue when the disaster finishes, or get back to the starting point if the time of visit expires. To entertain the participants, heads may think over the amusement program, and make people take part in performances and team activities.
Conclusion
Finally, it should be emphasized that the travel management issues presuppose numerous factors and aspects, nevertheless, the key matters, which should be taken into consideration have been regarded in the paper. All the necessary factors for the traveling route will be informed by the tour operator, and the task of the organizers is to think of the matters of safety and comfort of all the participants.
The equipment, which is required for the journey is discussed in the corresponding chapter, consequently, in order to avoid any unexpectedness, and minimize its consequences on the comfort of the allover journey, the arrangers (the heads of the group) should take care of the issues of equipment, and follow, that everyone had everything necessary for the successful and comfortable journey.