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New Zealanders are urged to do something different this summer season, to help local tour operators.
Lake Te Anau in Fiordland.
Photo: Unsplash / What J
Domestic tourism in January is forecast to exceed last year’s spending over the same period by nearly 20 percent.
But even that would be well below total spending if the amount spent by international tourists is included.
While places traditionally favored by New Zealanders are expected to do well around Christmas, such as Northland, Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, it is the other places that rely on international visitors that could struggle, such as Te Anau and Milford. Sound.
That is why Tourism New Zealand has been promoting domestic travel since the closure, to try to get locals to visit those places.
This summer, it is no different, with the organization asking Kiwis to try something new.
Tourism NZ CEO Stephen England-Hall said: “We recognize that during the Christmas period, in particular, and the New Year to a lesser extent, we have a fairly common behavior: we have family gatherings and traditional venues.
“I think it’s important to recognize that these ingrained behaviors are hard things to change.
“We’re saying, why not add something new, why not try something new? If you’ve always frequented Waihi Island in summer, maybe you should zip line.”
Waihi Beach.
Photo: Unsplash / Douglas Bagg
But whether such exploration and daring are in line with what New Zealanders really want to do, is another matter.
A report from Tourism NZ found that what New Zealanders on vacation wanted were opportunities to relax and refresh.
Other aspects they were looking for were spectacular natural landscapes and landscapes, and the opportunity to go to a place they had never been before.
While domestic spending for January looks positive, there is concern that it will decline for the rest of the summer as people return to work.
“We anticipate that February and March will be very mild in the tourism sector,” England-Hall said.
“Of course, traditionally February and March are very popular months for international visitors.
“We would expect quite a few [tourism businesses] It will be very difficult to navigate that time period. “
It means that traders are even more interested in the outcome of the Australia-New Zealand negotiations on the prospect of a trans-Tasmanian bubble, which could inject some much-needed cash into the sector.
Special organized flight from Wellington for the wild food festival
Air New Zealand will operate a special flight between Wellington and Hokitika for the Wildfoods Festival in March.
The $ 300 round-trip fee is designed to encourage North Islanders to participate in one of the biggest events on the West Coast.
An airline spokesperson said events like the Wildfoods Festival give kiwis a great reason to travel nationally and support regions.
Westland Mayor Bruce Smith said it’s great that the national airline is willing to support the festival with a special service and looks forward to welcoming guests from the North Island.
