Summer congestion costs industry

By CHRIS DANIELS tourism writer

Senior international travel buyers warn that worsening summer-season bottlenecks are making life difficult for their business.

Len Murray, general manager of Australian travel company Value Tours Australia, said bottlenecks, particularly with accommodation, were developing in New Zealand.

It was often difficult to put together itineraries for tourists, particularly during the peak summer season.

Cheap airfares had encouraged huge numbers of Australians to come to New Zealand, but in some spots, such as the South Island's West Coast, Kaikoura and now Queenstown, congestion was causing problems. Other areas, such as Milford Sound, had long off-seasons, but then had to try to cope with huge peaks in summer.

Murray, who was here for the Trenz conference - the industry annual trade show - said there had been massive growth in Australians visiting New Zealand - "it's like someone turned the tap on".

Much of this growth was repeat visits. Low airfares had attracted a whole new market of Australian tourist - the "mums and dads", who spent a lot of money. Murray used skiing as an example, where these new travellers did not have any of their own ski gear, so hired or bought it from New Zealand suppliers.

Michael McClelland, owner of "The Best of New Zealand Fly Fishing", which specialised in bringing American fishing enthusiasts here, said there was a 10-day period this past summer where there was not a single rental car available in the South Island.

Bruce Hodge, president of Goway Travel, based in Toronto, said promotions based around The Lord of the Rings and Tourism NZ's 100% Pure campaign had been good at putting across an image, but more was needed to tell tourists how to actually get here.

The appeal of Maori culture was not as great in the North American market as it had been, but many tourists still wanted some Maori component to their trip.