Tourism, biosecurity and pathways into New Zealand: Identifying risk and mitigation strategies. Report on visitor hotspot data mapping

Abstract

This report describes the mapping and analysis of tourist itinerary data to identify visitor hotspots on nights/days one to seven of visits to New Zealand. Two data sets – describing sample data collected via the International Visitor Survey (IVS) from the 2012-2013 year (YE June) and cruise schedules from the 2017-2018 year (YE August) – are mapped. If viewed in sequence the maps presented provide an indication of visitor flow around New Zealand, but the data displayed is aggregate only. As such, it more accurately represents visitor hotspots over sequential night (and days) while in New Zealand. Together these data identify the most common locations visited by tourists arriving both by air (overnight visit hotspots) and sea (day visit hotspots). The research forms part of a four-year programme investigating the use of tourist movement data to visualise tourist flows through the country to determine points of intersection and aggregation in respect of biosecurity risk. Mapping these data has potential to improve tasking and prioritising of biosecurity surveillance programmes. It also contributes to a better understanding of the biosecurity risk presented by tourism.