February 12, 2007

Major tourism operators call for tougher regulation on second-hand imported vehicles

Major tourism operators InterCity Group Limited and Tourism Holdings Limited are calling for tougher regulation on use of old-age, imported vehicles being used to carry international tourists in New Zealand. Together, both companies cater for more than 2.7 million customers annually.

Currently, there is no regulation on the importation of old coaches from offshore.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven has said in response to the weekend tourist coach crash in Tokoroa that he wanted to make seatbelts compulsory on all new tour buses.

Both Tourism Holdings Limited and InterCity Group Limited state that it is not new vehicles that are the issue, it is old imported buses that pose a threat to passengers and others travelling on New Zealand roads.

Both companies support the use of seatbelts in coaches, in fact, Tourism Holdings Limited and InterCity Group Limited, along with most major transport industry operators, voluntarily fit seat belts in large tourist coaches. A number of customers have demanded that seat belts are available in coaches for a number of years.

Major operators such as Tourism Holdings Limited and InterCity Group Limited build their vehicles in New Zealand and voluntarily meet safety and engine technology, as well as European emission standards.

In addition, both companies invest significant resources in driver training programmes, which include safety, commentary, vehicle handling and legal compliance modules.

The tourism industry cannot accept the continued use of second-hand, imported vehicles that do not meet tough safety and emissions standards. Tourism Holdings Limited and InterCity Group call on the government to get serious about addressing aged vehicles and the risk that these vehicles present to our multi-billion dollar tourism industry.

Unfortunately occasional accidents are a reality of the transportation industry. However, if stricter controls are not instigated around the importation of old passenger vehicles New Zealand runs the risk of serious damage being done to its environmental position, its quality tourism image and road safety.

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