Fortunately, a distinctive characteristic of many New Zealand experiences, whether adventurous or cultural, is their often smaller group sizes, creating a more intimate and personal encounter for visitors. This pairs particularly well with the style observed in Māori tourism businesses, which leverages the power of storytelling.These excursions expertly weave the special histories, legends, and cultural narratives of a place into the visitor experience. “It’s a great way to be able to educate and teach visitors while they explore extraordinary sites like caves or geothermal hot pools,” Upston says, adding that the focus on less crowded interactions amplifies the depth of the interactions between visitors. The future of New Zealand’s tourism sector hinges on adapting to key challenges, which include growing the tourism and hospitality workforce by employing more New Zealanders and diligently protecting the country’s unique environmental attractions for an increasing number of visitors. Moreover, the increasing involvement of Māoriowned enterprises, such as Ngāi Tahu, a large holding in tourism businesses, and other Iwi organizations, is set to bring an even more unique cultural component to the visitor experience, solidifying New Zealand’s distinctiveness on the global stage. With everything mentioned, the question is: what deeper secrets lie within this enchanting land? To this question, Upston gives a simple yet profoundly inviting answer, saying, “Don’t hesitate, if you’re thinking about coming to New Zealand, come and see us. We promise it’ll be a wonderful visit.” 96 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 07
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