The Auckland
City Mission Christmas visitors as reported in the Weekend Herald, Saturday 5 January,
2013
The
Xing Yu [Lucky Jade] Tour company activities are not illegal however,
their mean-spirited appearance at the City Mission’s Christmas dinner
caused shame and offence to the Chinese
community at large.
The Chinese people in New Zealand are not ungenerous as has been reported by the Herald. They made a donation to the Auckland City Mission because of Lucky Jade’s usury. This generosity has a positive side too. It also reinforces the inherent generosity of New Zealanders like those who support the City Mission appeals.
They did not have to do this and we must know ourselves that many other kiwi communities would respond in this generous way.
This
says much about the Chinese community and their commitment to this
country which sadly, for much of the 19th and 20th century discriminated
against them in the most appalling
ways.
Because of their actions Lucky Jade is considered immoral and
potentially damaging to our tourism industry if allowed to continue
unchecked. Are Lucky Jade or other touts like them
still offering these tours? Of course they are. Touts are symbolic of
Third World economics.
It
would appear at first glance that Ming Xi and his party had real value
for money. $88 for a day trip is ridiculously cheap. This is the
epiphany of a deregulated society. The Lucky
Jade Tour Company profits by this model. They use public spirited
organisations like the Auckland City Mission and religious groups to
provide free sustenance and entertainment. They also exploit local rate
payers, in this case those of Auckland and Rotorua.
Mt
Eden and Murawai beach are constantly patronised by unlicensed
operators. Their activity undermines Auckland Natural Estate the actions
of people who care for these natural assets
and also threaten public access to them. Whereas licenced operators are
controlled and play by the rules.
What other first world country would allow this freedom? Certainly not the Peoples Republic of China.
How
do tourists know the skill levels of unlicensed operators, or whether
they have relevant qualifications or licences or even how safe their
vehicles and the other services they
provide are?
Their business model will not assist the tourism industry or help grow a sustainable economy.
Lucky
Jade and other operators like them impact on our national reputation
and unfairly compete with other companies who are responsible operators.
Responsible
companies pay their way, pay GST, ACC, and abide by New Zealand laws.
Good employers mentor employees, offer training and career paths and pay
a living wage.
The
tourism industry spends substantial funds collectively to market New
Zealand as a wonderful destination. We celebrate our heritage, natural
attractions and the cultures that make
Auckland a most liveable city in world rankings. We also make community
contributions to enhance the public estates and to make the tourism
industry sustainable.
This
is increasingly an important contribution especially when central
government has lost interest. Well healed and educated visitors, the
interactive visitor, expect no less.
Businesses
like Lucky Jade have no perception of what the tourist should actually
experience. If we all followed their model the real contribution that
tourism makes to New Zealand
Inc. would quickly disappear.
If
there had been an accident with Mr Xi and his tour group, they would
not have had such a pleasant experience. Indeed an accident may have had
expensive ramifications for the tax
payer.
The New Zealand Tourism Industry in the main, is a world class operation and internationally is regarded as such.
Economically it is as important as the dairy industry and is our largest employer.
Chris
Roberts of Tourism New Zealand and Justin Hill of ATEED rightly say
that visitors should book their activities and accommodation though
accredited parties. Qualmark ensures
that visitors will enjoy a safe experience that is value for money.
Unfortunately the tourism industry is toothless. There is little legislation that enforces standards.
Has the Lucky Jade Company ever been inspected?
The Prime Minister is the Minister of Tourism and yet light regulation ensures that cowboy operations will survive.
We
have had loss of life in adventure sports, transport and aviation-
including hot air ballooning. Monday 8 January 200 people attended a
memorial service in Carteton. This was the
first anniversary of the Carteton hot air ballooning accident. On that
warm Wairarapa day which that town will never forget eleven families
lost relatives who are now statistics and further testimony to the
safety standards we accept in New Zealand.
We
await the report of an enquiry into this incident. This will provide
another opportunity to lift standards to hopefully prevent another
incident?
The
costs of regimes for activities and accommodation should not be borne
by ratepayers or tax payers. A very cost effective model is for all
operators to be certified by Qualmark, which responsible tourism operators throughout New Zealand are. There may be
better ways but in the absence of alternatives all operators should have
a Qualmark licence. This will provide confidence for the all important
overseas visitor. Internationally it will
help branding for New Zealand within this most important industry.
The
lessons of Pyke River and the TV building in Christchurch should be a
clarion call that cheap and cheerful models are not in our national
interest. Tourism is too important an
industry to New Zealand to tolerate standards that Lucky Jade and their
ilk provide.
Local
bodies also need to lift their game. In the accommodation sector some
have fire compliance, some do not. We all will be better served if local
and central government worked together
with industry to develop a plan to eliminate these cowboys before they
deliver a Pyke River tragedy to our tourism industry.
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