Exploring the impact of innovation in promoting sustainable tourism development: The role of key stakeholders on the top of the south aquaculture and seafood trail in Nelson/Marlborough, New Zealand
Contemporary tourism planning recognises that an integrated and sustainable development approach includes the participation of local communities and residents. Community level innovation and leadership is also important in creating and implementing new ideas as part of the development process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stakeholder perspectives regarding community capacity to link tourism and aquaculture opportunities in the Nelson/Marlborough Region on the South Island of New Zealand. In 2005 the Marine Farming Association developed and published the “Top of the South Aquaculture and Seafood Trail” as a brochure for tourists to promote a positive image of aquaculture in the region. The Trail integrates local tourism providers, restaurants, accommodations, seafood retail, as well as harvesting and processing businesses (mussel farms) as part of a themed driving route. There is a strong economic dependence on aquaculture and tourism in the region with both industries generating a combined $402 million annually in the Nelson Region alone. In conducting the research, 22 local stakeholders were interviewed regarding their perceptions about strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities associated with the Trail as part of a mixed method, case study approach. The results demonstrated that tourism in the region was well developed, that there were weaknesses in networking and collaboration, that there were gaps between perceptions of the aquaculture and tourism industries and that the role of the university has been important in building community capacity for research and strategic planning linked to the trail
