begging backpackers

[wayno]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/6452 ... avel-funds

[dingelberry]

Hand out food vouchers.

[wayno]

because NZ has so many huts in the mountains, a lot of backpackers travel here from overseas and go and stay in them for a cheap holiday for those who can't or don't want to pay for accommodation. they are supposed to pay fees, but there aren't enough hut wardens to go around and a large percentage of them avoid paying a lot of the time. makes me wonder how many go begging on the street here as well.
its common to be in a full hut with few if any new Zealanders in them. the fees don't go all the way to paying for the building and maintaining of the huts. theres no park admission fee so the tax payers have largely funded a cheap holiday for overseas visitors. funded from DOC's over stretched budget.

[RonK]

I saw this story on tv last night. A bit of a beat up I think.

There are always those with an eye on the main chance. I don't believe backpackers are any worse than others.

Backpackers inject more than $3 billion p.a. into the Australian economy.