Abstract
Collaborative networks play a key role in tourism disaster management. Understanding what makes them effective and how they can be maintained in the absence of disasters is crucial for enhancing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. This study uses a qualitative case study methodology to explore the factors influencing network effectiveness and sustainability in Piopiotahi/Milford Sound and Tāhuna/Queenstown, in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Findings are based on 34 interviews with local, regional and national tourism and emergency management stakeholders. This study advances our understanding of the factors that contribute to successful collaboration and introduces the concept of ‘collaborative network sustainability’ to the tourism disaster management literature. Strategies for maintaining network connections in the absence of disasters include the establishment of tourism and emergency management groups, regular meetings, scenario-based exercises and training, utilisation of ICT, internal and external motivation, and formalisation. Key implications include prioritising trust-building to improve coordination and investing in interoperable communication systems and redundancy mechanisms to enhance disaster resilience. Tourism and emergency management practitioners can use these findings and recommendations to improve relationships and overall network performance.