Ruapehu Alpine Lifts

Abstract

The case study gives some historical context to the tourism industry in New Zealand before going into detail on the skiing industry and the development of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL). There is a global skiing context within which RAL operates and the Whakapapa skifield, as a part of the Tongariro National park, is also discussed in terms of the Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Tongariro Management Plan. Issues around sustainability, environmental impacts and ecotourism and the impacts they have on the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts operation and its development are discussed throughout the case study