Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said ensuring the adventure tourism sector retained the "dynamism" which set it apart from the rest of the world while ensuring best possible safety was the aim of the national review, which would be carried out in two phases.
Led by the Department of Labour, the review was announced by Tourism Minister John Key on September 21 and comes after the death of English tourist Emily Jordan (21) while on a river-boarding trip near Queenstown in April last year.
Mr Boyd, who has been in the industry for 22 years, told the Otago Daily Times the bulk of media coverage since the tragedy had focused "on one incident".
"I think there is a perception out there that there's a higher degree of risk than the figures would support. There has also been a lot of comment that there's no barriers to entry [in the sector].
"There are some [standards] lower to others, but I can't think of any that have no [standards]. [The review] will address some of that and, as a result, alter the public perception . . . or misconception."
Ms Wilkinson said people came from all over the world to experience the adrenaline rush New Zealand's adventure tourism operators provided.
"At the same time, thrillseekers should be able to expect every possible effort is made to ensure their safety. The sector already has a number of measures in place; this comprehensive review is about protecting our international reputation by ensuring all operators are meeting high safety standards."
The review will be conducted in two phases and will cover all commercial adventure tourism.
It would include indoor activities including rock climbing, which carried "inherent risks" of a similar nature to activities conducted outdoors.
Mr Boyd said it was "hard to argue with anything" the review would be looking at, with phase one sounding "positive".
"It will be good in terms of the industry as a whole if there's a bit of a stocktake - what the entry criteria are, the total picture of risk in adventure tourism."
He also thought the addition of a Queenstown Lakes District Council representative, on behalf of Local Government New Zealand, was beneficial.
"They've got a wider perspective in terms of what goes on locally and that's got to be useful.
"Queenstown adventure tourism has changed a lot over the past 10 years in particular . . . I think it's quite good having someone local who can say this used to be the scene and there have been some changes."
QLDC chief executive Duncan Field said no decision had been made on who the council's representative would be.
He agreed it was beneficial having a Queenstown voice on both the steering and project working groups.
The council had a large amount of knowledge on adventure tourism - particularly waterways adventure tourism - through its resource consent process and managing other operators, for example, Shotover Jet.
Ms Wilkinson said the review would be reported back by the end of March, with interim reports in December and January.
"Adventure tourism is important to our economy and to our international reputation. This will be a considered and measured review, and one in which all stakeholders can make useful contributions."
