Strapped Kiwis opt to stay home

By JOSIE CLARKE consumer reporter

Not only are New Zealanders deciding against international travel, they are not embarking on journeys closer to home either.

Resorts around the country say airfares and petrol prices seem to be keeping even the more affluent travellers at home.

Assistant general manager of Queenstown's Rydges Hotel, Julie O'Connell, said that although the town was "ticking over quite nicely" with visitors from nearby, New Zealanders from further afield seemed to have stayed away, probably because of high petrol prices and airfares.

Local operators also expected petrol prices, if they remained at present levels, would mean fewer boaties on Lake Hayes, near Queenstown, during summer.

"The economy is pinching New Zealanders' budgets," said Ms O'Connell.

"It will be interesting to see if our visitor numbers are still up over Christmas and New Year."

Reservations manager at the Rydges in Rotorua, Deborah Kiddie, said the hotel had started extra advertising, including a mail drop in Auckland, without much success.

"It has been rather quiet, to tell the truth. I think people are just staying home and saving for the Christmas break."

Taupo operators, who usually dealt with a mix of international and domestic guests said they had not noticed any increase in the number of New Zealand guests.

The Beachcomber Resort and Paihia Beach Resort in the Bay of Islands both reported the usual influx of Aucklanders for the long weekend, but said they had not noticed more New Zealanders than usual booking in since the dollar dropped.

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