Prince Harry backs New Zealand’s Eco-Tourism message in ad for Travalyst
The Royal goes head-to-head with New Zealand’s top comedians to promote his eco-travel venture.
Prince Harry has been slapped with some unflattering monikers in recent years, but ‘litterbug’ has never been one of them.
To launch an initiative for his sustainable travel organisation Travalyst, the British Royal’s dedication to eco-friendly tourism is questioned in a new video starring some of New Zealand’s biggest stars.
In the ad, the 37-year-old prince is bailed up by a travel rating agent – played by Flight of The Concords star Rhys Darby – while on a jog and questioned about a lolly wrapper discarded on a trip to Aotearoa in 2018.
“It might have been a confusing time, it was windy,” Darby concedes.
“I don’t think it was confusing,” the father-of-two replies. “It was an incredible time. We had an amazing time in New Zealand. It’s beautiful.”
After listing his excessive towel usage at the hotel, the Prince is slapped with a three-star rating before it’s revealed he’s been mixed up with another Harry – former One Direction star Harry Styles.
The video was filmed in California to promote Travalyst’s latest initiative with New Zealand, which aims to help travellers make more sustainable choices while travelling.
The not-for-profit has developed a standardised way to calculate air travel carbon emissions which is being implemented by major companies such as Google and Skyscanner.
“In a world where we’re tasked with rating so many things, we’re now asking: what if your destination rated you?” the Duke of Sussex asked in a statement.
“There is a well-known Māori proverb: Ehara take toa I te toa takitahi, ēngari he toa takitini (success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many) – we invite you to be a part of our many.”
Tourism Industry Aotearoa member Trent Yeo said starting a conversation around sustainably-focused travel would help keep the message at the front of mind for tourists and the wider industry.
“We all love to rate our travel and hospitality experiences but the notion of turning those ratings back on ourselves is brilliant.”
The video comes following moves by New Zealand’s travel industry to reduce the impact of tourism as the country reopens its international borders after a two-year hiatus.
With cruise line tourism exploding and millions of international tourists visiting the country’s natural wonders prior to the pandemic, both government and tour operators alike are working to implement a more sustainable foundation for the future.
Last year the country’s tourism ministry proposed changes to the country’s freedom camping laws, including implementing registration and certification for self-contained vehicles and requiring them to have a fixed toilet.
Tourist hot spots such as Milford Sound Piopiotahi have also proposed limiting daily visitor numbers and introducing fees for international visitors.
Why you should visit LA after the fires
The catastrophic fires did not touch Hollywood’s key attractions and the famous suburb of Beverly Hills. The show must go on and that includes welcoming visitors back to the city.
Ditch the tourist traps for these 15 underrated alternatives
Sick of the crowds in Paris, Mykonos, Kyoto or San Sebastian? We have found other cities, towns and islands that may be even better than the originals.