Rotorua businesses reliant on international tourism have been buoyed by the news their "lifeline" in the form of a transtasman bubble is two weeks away.
Quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will start at 11.59pm on April 18, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday.
Kohutapu Lodge owner Nadine Toe Toe said the past year had been "horrendous" but reprieve was just around the corner.
"It's a massive win for the tourism industry," she told the Rotorua Daily Post.
"Australia is the largest inbound market to New Zealand, so a lot of our fellow tourism operators are going to be breathing a huge sigh of relief."
Toe Toe said their business was 98 per cent reliant on the international market, especially Europe, but the bubble was an exciting prospect.
"During the last few weeks, we've worked hard to hang on, to hustle, to do what we can to stay alive ... the international market opening up is a huge win for us."
River Rats owner Justin Hutton said they weren't sure if they would have survived winter without the bubble.
Before the virus, Australian's made up between 25 to 30 per cent of their business, slightly bigger than the domestic market.
"Potentially, it will double the number of customers we've got. It might be the difference between whether we survive winter or not," Hutton said.
"I'm pretty excited to see some movement finally. Hopefully, other places equally as low risk such as Taiwan and places like that will start to be considered."
Polynesian Spa chief executive Gert Taljaard believed he spoke for a large portion of the country's tourism industry when he said the bubble was "a saving grace".
"The past 12 months has taken its toll on every tourism outfit, and although this announcement of a transtasman bubble won't resurrect all our losses, it's certainly welcomed with open arms."
Helloworld Travel Rotorua owner Deborah Kay said "it'll be a bit of a lifeline".
"[The bubble] means the industry might be able to survive for a little bit longer because we have nothing," she said.
"I think we'll find a big swirl initially and a little lull as the first round goes and then others will have seen people go and come back and see it's all okay.
"It's going to mean a lot to the travel industry, the tourism industry, and I think lots of Kiwis needing to see families. I think it's going to be a good thing."
While she was especially thankful for locals and their optimism around domestic travel, she said there was plenty of interest in a bubble.
Meanwhile, Scottish woman Diane Campbell is one person who will benefit personally from the bubble.
Stuck in Australia, Campbell has been itching to be reunited with her father and meet her cousin, who lives in Rotorua, for the first time.
She last saw her dad, who lives in Mount Maunganui, in October 2019 and was hoping to visit in the next few months.
"We keep in touch via email, but it is difficult not being able to get on a plane and visit anytime you want to."
Her father's health was not the best and it is "a bit of a worry not being able to travel".
"I am just looking forward to being able to spend valuable time with dad ... the sooner the borders are open the better."
It was the same with her family in Scotland who she had not seen since the pandemic started and she had to attend two funerals of close family via livestream.
"It has been a difficult time for everyone everywhere."
She was also looking forward to meeting her cousin Rachel for the first time. She found Campbell through an ancestry website and they now talk almost daily.
"We are really looking forward to meeting in person," she said, predicting the pair will "have a great time catching up on our lives and maybe a few glasses of wine".
Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty branch president and Hennessy's bar owner Reg Hennessy said the lack of accommodation in the city was a concern, and stood the risk of selling businesses short of feet through the door if there was nowhere to stay.
However, he said Australian visitors would be great for the city.
He said he was unsure how much longer some businesses would be able to last without the tourism, with many already shut as a result of the halt of international visitors.
Destination Rotorua chief executive Andrew Wilson said Australian visitors accounted for one-fifth of the $363 million spent annually in Rotorua by international visitors prior to the pandemic.
He said a bubble would provide a "much need boost" for local operators and the Rotorua economy, and said he was confident the city was ready.
Wilson expected the first wave of travellers would be those visiting friends and family, with leisure visitors likely to follow.
"The city is absolutely ready to welcome Australian visitors back."
He said the Easter weekend was proof of the high standard of operators, accommodation and hospitality providers.
Hospitality New Zealand Bay of Plenty regional manager Alan Sciascia said there were some advantages as well as potential disadvantages.
A bubble with Australia would likely bring tourists to New Zealand who were keen for a break, he said, however he was unsure whether they would come to the Bay of Plenty region.
"Would those travellers come to the Bay of Plenty? Or would they prefer to come for a skiing holiday in Queenstown?"
Sciascia said it was unknown whether the money spent by Australians would exceed the money spent by Kiwis across the ditch, and any gain from foreign tourists may be offset by Kiwis choosing to travel overseas.
A bubble with the Cook Islands would be "extremely beneficial" to the Cook Islands economy at the cost to New Zealand destinations where Kiwis are currently spending their money, he said.
In a statement about the importance of a transtasman bubble prior to the announcement, Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the bubble would be a lifeline.
"Australia was our largest international market pre-Covid and a transtasman travel bubble could be what saves some operators and jobs, and could potentially see some people rehired."
She said there was still a lot of uncertainty and risk, which is why there was a cautious approach.
"Today's announcement has been greatly anticipated ... we are ready to once again welcome Australian visitors – in a well-managed way of course."
Concern grows for Hayden Kemp, 40, last seen in Rerewhakaaitu on Friday.