New website leads the world in adventure tourism safety

Media Release for immediate use: 11 May 2012
From: Outdoors New Zealand

New website leads the world in adventure tourism safety

New Zealand is taking the lead in the world of outdoor safety.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key launched today the “one-stop-shop” website http://www.SupportAdventure.co.nz on behalf of the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) and Outdoors New Zealand. These two non-government organisations developed the website with funding from the Department of Labour. Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson also attended the launch, which took place at TRENZ 2012 in Queenstown.

SupportAdventure is an outcome of the government-led Adventure Tourism Safety Review and is one of the first initiatives from the review recommendations. The website is believed to be a world-first of its type.
“The launch of this website shows how New Zealand is leading the way in regulating adventure and outdoor safety. It’s an important first step in a line of implementations being carried out as a result of the Adventure Tourism Safety Review,” Outdoors New Zealand Chief Executive, Garth Dawson says.

The content on SupportAdventure is based on extensive consultation with the adventure and outdoor sector including 25 operator workshops attended by more than 300 people, as well as discussions with a wide range of individual businesses and organisations.

“We’re working with Department of Labour and TIA to deliver the recommendations of the review on behalf of the outdoor community,” Mr Dawson says.

“We’re committed to working within that process and fully engaged in developing outcomes that provide assurance that all outdoor activities involving heightened risk are being managed safely and that preventable accidents will not occur.”

SupportAdventure includes detailed information on how to develop a safety management plan, legislation relevant to the adventure and outdoor sector, and links to other useful websites

“SupportAdventure is a great first step that will enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a world leading outdoor adventure industry. The website will evolve and improve over the years.”

“Outdoors New Zealand believes assurance should involve commitment from across the outdoors community, not just selected adventure tourism activities. All outdoor providers should meet approved standards of safety assurance by getting certification through an audit such as OutdoorsMark,” Mr Dawson says.

OutdoorsMark is the leading, independent provider of safety audits to the outdoors community. An OutdoorsMark certification provides assurance to participants that outdoor activities are managed safely

“Outdoors New Zealand has been developing OutdoorsMark for over a decade. We encourage adventure activity providers (whether they sit inside or outside of the regulatory framework) to integrate established safety procedures into their operation. Getting OutdoorsMark will achieve this goal, as well adding value to your business.”
Rob Jewell, Fox Glacier Guiding, welcomes the SupportAdventure website as it provides a huge amount of information for those operators not already certified.

“SupportAdventure is perfect for operators not sure where to begin. The demands of participants and society are high and it’s important that we in the outdoors community provide assurance, whilst maintaining the sense of adventure they expect. The website is the best place to start developing a safety management system so you can get certified. Whether you come under the regulations or not, getting certified adds significant value to your operation. It’s created by the outdoors community for the outdoors community and easy to understand without technical jargon.”

Mr Jewell goes on to say, ”Achieving OutdoorsMark was a rewarding experience for our glacier guiding operation. We were impressed with the process and the way in which every applicable area of our business was assessed. The assurance that safety audits like this provide is vital to our industry.”

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http://www.supportadventure.co.nz/about-site-and-government-safety-review - for more information about the Adventure Tourism Review.

http://www.outdoorsmark.org.nz - for more information about OutdoorsMark safety audit certification.

Outdoors New Zealand is a non-profit organisation providing leadership and support to the outdoor recreation, outdoor education and adventure tourism community. Our vision is to see people in New Zealand enjoying the opportunity for positive outdoor recreation and education experiences through a coherent, vibrant, and effective outdoors community.

ENDS

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