KEY POINTS:
Tourism Holdings Ltd today reported a 13.8 per cent rise in first-half profit to $4.725 million.
The company said its forecast for the full year was unchanged with a profit of between $15m and $18m expected.
The company operates campervans, coaches and major tourist attractions, including Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World in Auckland.
The profit in the six months to December 31 was achieved on a 12.2 per cent increase in revenue to $90.48m. Earnings per share of 4.8c were up from 4.2c last year.
The interim dividend of 5c a share was unchanged from last year and it was payable on April 27 to shareholders registered on April 20.
The operating surplus before tax of $6.67m was up 10.2 per cent.
The company said its rentals business put in a good performance in the period, particularly in Australia.
Its tourism leisure business also performed well despite a slight reduction in revenue from the coach business.
Costs increased across the board, reflecting increased fuel prices, wage rates and staffing requirements in new or enhanced attractions.
Trading was relatively slow, as expected, in the first quarter, but the same quarter the previous year included revenue from the British Lions rugby tour.
"The second quarter was noticeably stronger, due to increased visitation to New Zealand and new product innovations," the company said.
Visitor numbers increased in both New Zealand and Australia, with a continued slowdown from Japan offset by increases from the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
- NZPA
