Tourism 'doing OK' in Queenstown

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Major tourism operators in Queenstown say they have had a steady, if unspectacular, early summer trading period, with unsettled weather affecting many of them.

High winds, low cloud and swollen rivers have forced customers away from outdoor activities or made it difficult for businesses to operate their attractions.

AJ Hackett Bungy chief executive Michelle Trapski said business during the past fortnight had been "steadily busy rather than chaotically busy".

Traditionally busy days such as New Year's Day had been quiet while normally slower days had been just the opposite, she said.

"I think the weather has been more of a player this year – not so much the rain, but the wind. But yeah, we're reasonably happy. We can't complain."

Shotover Jet general manager Clark Scott said the company was "doing OK" this summer.

Changeable weather had disrupted operations, such as forcing the cancellation of many trips on Sunday, which made it difficult to compare numbers with previous years. "We're not breaking any substantial records but we're holding our own."

Ms Trapski and Mr Scott had yet to check their numbers but both felt there were a lot of Australian tourists around, but fewer than usual from the UK.

Totally Tourism owner Mark Quickfall also said weather had affected operations, with the company's planes unable to fly to Milford Sound on several days because of wind and low cloud.

"Outside of that, we're trading very strongly."

Mr Quickfall questioned whether fewer domestic visitors might have holidayed in Queenstown at New Year because there was no one-day international cricket fixture this year.

Real Journeys Walter Peak operations manager Andrew Husheer said domestic numbers had been slightly down but the number of Australian customers was up on other years.

There had been a lot of families taking the Earnslaw steamship because of a promotion offering free travel to children.

Queenstown Lake View Holiday Park and Arrowtown Holiday Park manager Greg Hartshorne said guest numbers had been slightly down through the holiday period.

Fewer domestic visitors had stayed at the parks than in previous years, apart from a huge influx for the short New Year period from December 30 to January 2.

The number of young visitors was also down, with "very few" campers staying on the normally thriving recreation ground during New Year. "It was only three or four years ago there were tents the length of the field."

Motel Association of New Zealand president and Queenstown Motel Apartments owner Peter Smith said the holiday break had been excellent for the local industry.

Though there seemed to be fewer people camping, many moteliers had been full for the five nights between December 29 and January 3, Mr Smith said.

Guest nights were up on last year and bookings for the remainder of summer also looked good.

"There's an air of optimism that wasn't necessarily there last year."

- © Fairfax NZ News