Bumper weekend for tourism

Rotorua events have had a huge draw this summer, including the Bayleys National Sevens (pictured) on the weekend.

This summer has been "one of the best ever" for visitor numbers with Rotorua experiencing another bumper weekend.

The weekend's events, including the Bayleys National Sevens tournament, the World Invitation Superstock Champs, the Country in the Park concert and the Rotorua Vintage and Veteran Car Club annual car show, drew hundreds of people to Rotorua with tourist vendors getting the overflow.

Rotorua Visitor Centre and i-Site manager Graham Brownrigg said a good indication of busy weekends was the scarce accommodation.

"We are seeing most places with little or no vacancies, which suggests we've had a real bumper weekend.

"It has been a steady summer - in previous years our visitor numbers have ebbed and flowed but this year it has been constant. On an average day our statistics are on par with last year but because the busy period has been constant, overall it has been one of the best years ever for visitor numbers."

Mr Brownrigg said visitors would have come for the events but stayed for the tourist attractions.

"Big events like the stockcars would have definitely brought visitors to Rotorua but tourist vendors are getting the overflow with those visitors looking for something fun to do before heading back home.

"We are coming to the end of the busy period now and traditionally visitor numbers die off for a bit before picking back up in February, but we will have to wait and see what this year has in store."

Sport of Kings Motel manager Tristen Williams said accommodation was packed.

"It has been full-on this weekend and it has been like that since the start of December.

"It's fantastic to have so many great events on, drawing the out-of-towners to the city.

"We don't have any vacancies at the moment and I would suspect this busy period will continue if the first half of summer is anything to go by."

Rotorua Association of Motels president and owner of Cedarwood Lakeside Holiday Retreat Fiona Suurenbroek said motels were brimming on Friday and Saturday nights, with no spare beds available.

"It's been full-on. Some motels will have had visitors going to the stockcars or the Sevens, but I think we are still getting quite a few holidaymakers as well - it has been a bit of a mixed bag across the board I think. We are still seeing a lot of families visiting Rotorua to make the most of the good weather and have some fun before school goes back."

Sevens tournament director Allison Stewart said the tournament was "fabulous".

"The teams have had a great time, there's been tight games and the whanau zone was great.

"Having Sonny Bill Williams there was great and the weather was amazing.

"Sky Sport has loved being in Rotorua, too."

Although she didn't have total ticket sale numbers yet, she said it was estimated there were slightly more than last year.

She said crowd numbers could be deceiving as they were stretched over two fields.

"We had plenty of room for a lot more people, though."

Upcoming long weekends:

* Auckland Anniversary Weekend: January 30 to February 1.

* Waitangi Weekend: February 6 (observed Monday 8).