How many tourists are too many tourists? It's a question that people who live in New Zealand's most beautiful and popular spots eventually have to grapple with.
Now it's the turn of the residents of Hahei in the Coromandel. Cathedral Cove attracts thousands of tourists every day and a new coastal walking track is expected to increase visitor numbers and tensions in the community.
"Currently Cathedral Cove has visitors of around 150,000 people per year," says Hahei Beach Ratepayers Association chairman Bill Stead. "It's growing by 15,000 more people every year."
Those numbers could rise further. Thames District Council is planning to build a coastal walking track aimed at driving economic growth. More tourists means more pressure on the small beach village.
Residents say traffic and water supply are major problems. They're issues many tourist attractions around the country have to grapple with.
Cathedral Cove is already a tourist hot spot and pulls in some big numbers. During the peak summer season 3000 visitors come each day, so you can imagine how busy its only carpark gets, with a capacity of 45.
Residents want issues like the carpark sorted before the walkway, encouraging more tourists, gets underway.
But the Mayor says the walkway will help to ease congestion over time.g
"The walkway actually distributes people around the eastern Mercury Bay a lot easier and moves them 'round rather than centralising them here at Hahei," says Glenn Leach.
Residents just hope it will be enough to protect and preserve their local treasure.
3 News
