Smokefree and vapefree destinations a hit with tourists

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-08-05 00:01

New Zealand

Schwede66, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

A smokefree and vapefree zone was trialled for six months in Hanmer Springs, and almost a thousand people were surveyed to find out what they thought. 95% of visitors said they would be more likely or as likely to visit other places in New Zealand that have no smoking/no vaping zones. 67% of residents and 63% of businesses supported the zone being smokefree and vapefree. Of the businesses, 70% reported no effect on their business, and 13% reported a positive effect. Fewer people were observed smoking and vaping once the zone was implemented. The authors say that smokefree and vapefree zones in tourist destinations could have a net benefit for both individuals and communities.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

This study was designed to evaluate the attitudes of local businesses, residents, and visitors regarding the trial of a voluntary smokefree and vapefree zone covering the central business streets of a popular tourist town in the South Island of New Zealand, Hanmer Springs. Considerable effort was directed towards accurately measuring the level of support for the initiative in Hanmer Springs, by seeking opinions from nearly 1,000 respondents across a broad range of stakeholder groups, using a variety of survey methods. Results indicated strong public support for current smokefree outdoor areas to also be vapefree. The initiative was particularly attractive to visitors, with 95% of visitors surveyed indicating that they would be more likely or as likely to visit other places in New Zealand with similar smokefree and vapefree outdoor areas. We conclude that smokefree and vapefree zones will have an overall positive impact over the long term, which will support New Zealand’s smokefree 2025 goal.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: Cancer Society NZ, Canterbury District Health Board

Funder: na

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