New Zealand vows crackdown on defecating backpackers

Agence France-Presse

<p>WELLINGTON - The New Zealand government promised Wednesday to take action against backpackers relieving themselves at natural beauty spots as part of post-coronavirus tourism plans.</p><p>Kiwis have long complained about so-called &quot;freedom campers&quot; who travel the country in campervans that do not have toilet facilities and leave human waste by the side of the road.</p><p>Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said the practice did not fit New Zealand&#x27;s &quot;100 percent pure&quot; image and that international visitors could expect changes when borders eventually reopen.</p><p>&quot;They need to buy into our sustainability brand and what we stand for as a country -- defecating on the side of the road and waterways is not who we are as a nation,&quot; he told reporters.</p><p>Nash said he planned to ban travelers from hiring campervans that were not self-contained as part of a tourism industry reset when the COVID-19 pandemic eases.</p><p>&quot;My ambition is that once global borders open, New Zealand is considered by the world&#x27;s most discerning travelers as one of the top three places in the world to visit,&quot; he said.</p><p>Before the pandemic, tourism was one of New Zealand&#x27;s biggest money-spinners, with about four million annual international visitors contributing NZ$16.2 billion ($11.2 billion) to the economy.</p><p>Nash suggested that visitors in future should follow his own example before setting out to explore New Zealand&#x27;s rugged natural wonders.</p><p>&quot;I always go before I leave home,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>ns/arb/oho/fox</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/><strong>FROM OUR ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPnhJqFhXnI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>WELLINGTON - The New Zealand government promised Wednesday to take action against backpackers relieving themselves at natural beauty spots as part of post-coronavirus tourism plans.</p>

WELLINGTON - The New Zealand government promised Wednesday to take action against backpackers relieving themselves at natural beauty spots as part of post-coronavirus tourism plans.

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New Zealand vows crackdown on defecating backpackers

New Zealand vows crackdown on defecating backpackers

Agence France-Presse

Published Nov 18, 2020 03:55 PM PHT

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new zealand

tourism

coronavirus

COVID-19

backpackers

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freedom campers

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