In 2011, the New Zealand National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) commissioned NZTRI to conduct research into the tourism, travel, and hospitality experiences and needs of people with hearing impairments.

Abstract:The British Columbia tourism industry—post Olympics—is in a state of transition, and this presents an opportunity to compare practices with similar overseas destinations. There are enough similarities with the New Zealand tourism industry (population base, comparable range of tourism experiences, Pacific Rim location etc.) that we can benefit by exploring, and learning from each other, particularly in the field of tourism education and research. Terry Hood will present a brief and informal overview of the tourism infrastructure in “Super, Natural British Columbia”, and highlight current issues that are high on the radar for tourism professionals in the province.

Abstract: Previous research has shown that managers in the hotel industry perceive persons with disabilities as lacking the required embodied capacities and attributes, unable to meet industry-specific work requirements and too costly to employ. I explore the validity of these negative judgements through a case study of integrative hotels employing on average more than 60 percent of persons with disabilities. The empirical findings show that the negative judgements held by managers in non-integrative hotels regarding persons with disabilities were not supported in the case of the integrated hotels. Many disabilities had no impact on the employees’ mobility or shift work.

NZTRI Associate Director Mark Orams wrote a column in the Sunday Star Times on 4 Dec 2011. Please read it below. 

Listen below to a Radio New Zealand report including an interview of NZTRI Director Simon Milne:

Abstract: Around the turn of the century the question how and to what extent tourism can address the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger (MDG1) started to gain attention. The scale and increase of global tourism, its outreach to underdeveloped regions and the dynamics of tourism in destinations underscored its potential to contribute to poverty reduction. A loose alliance of scholars and development practitioners coalesced around the concept of pro-poor tourism commissioning and executing research in a wide range of developing countries over the last decade.

Abstract: We were asked the question, "How Social is Your New Zealand RTO?" and, we provided an answer. This overview will explain how we determined the measurement methodologies to determine what New Zealand RTO uses social media best, along with why and how they stack up against a sub-set of US destination marketing organizations.

NZTRI Director Simon Milne was invited to participate in an international roundtable on Tourism as leverage for socio-economic development in Reunion Island (France) organised by INTA in partnership with the Regional Council of Reunion Island, and Ile de La Réunion Tourisme on 27-30 November 2011. 

The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute has been working with the NZ National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) to understand the needs of people with hearing loss in terms of tourism, travel and hospitality. NZTRI’s research programme areas include researching and developing Access Tourism, which is tourism, travel, and hospitality for people with permanent or temporary disabilities, seniors, parents with strollers, and anyone needing improved access.

  Simon Milne gave a presentation at a plenary session at the 2011 Tourism Industry Conference in Vancouver entitled ‘Tourism 2011: Perspectives from New Zealand’. Simon’s presentation was a high-level overview of how the industry in New Zealand is doing and and he also drew some parallels with the British Columbia context. To download the presentation, click below.