West Coast tourism makes a comeback – but challenges remain
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:
Visitor numbers are back to 80% of pre-Covid levels on the West Coast, but a tourism operator says challenges remain.
Scenic Hotel Group operations manager Karl Luxon told the Te Tai o Poutini Plan panel the West Coast visitor economy had bounced back to 80% of pre-pandemic numbers.
However, reduced international flights into the country restricted the tourist numbers.
Luxon also detailed the impact of the Airbnb sector and the challenge of attracting hotel staff and housing them in remote settlements like Punakaiki and Franz Josef Glacier.
The bottleneck in getting international tourists back had also coincided with a prominent "anti-flying" lobby focused on the carbon emissions of international tourism, he said.
Scenic was involved in lobbying to get airlines to return, but Luxon said airfares prices "are too high".
A return to the pre-Covid tourist numbers - upwards of 3 million people - was unlikely, he said.
However, the country remained "high on the radar" of overseas travellers, even if visitor volumes were "quite small" in the global context.
Scenic was now taking a longer view of having fewer tourists but higher value offerings for visitors to the region, he said.
The West Coast visitor market remained very seasonal, Luxon said.
Scenic's Punakaiki site had an annual occupancy rate barely over 60%, but it was marked by huge seasonal variation from 100% in summer to about 10% in winter.
Effort were being made to "flatten out" the visitor economy in the South Island.
This included leveraging off the new Christchurch Convention Centre, where visitors would say, "I have come this far" and decide to take a trip west.
"The reason we're interested in that sort of business is that it is year round."
Commissioner Paul Rogers asked what Scenic foresaw in the long term for tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Luxon said it would take another two years dependent on the Asian market and China.
The West Coast tourism sector, including food servicing, was still contracting in some areas, Luxon said.
This was due to "a massive amount of debt" caused by disruptions in the past few years.
While the sector was now "catching up" some businesses in the region were beginning to fall over, he said.
"Covid for tourism has a very long tail."
Scenic had seen many changes in the 43 years it had been in the region, Luxon said.
The traditional service of only providing beds was moving to an all-encompassing experience, keeping visitors longer than one night.
But, even with this change, the West Coast remained reliant on international visitors visiting for just a few days, he said.
"We're really positive about the West Coast. We wish to expand. We made the submission on the basis of maintaining the current activities while growing new activities as well."
In this respect the new TTPP planning framework should enable this aim, Luxon said.
Scenic needed to redevelop its Franz Josef sites by replacing buildings dating back to the 1950s.
The company foresaw a modular relocatable building approach, given the natural hazards of the area and the underlying uncertainty.
The Alpine Fault avoidance zone at Franz Josef Glacier restricted development in the current built-up area, which he said was "a bit problematic".
Under the plan they would only be able to redevelop their sites at Franz "within the same footprint", which was not necessarily desirable or efficient, Luxon said.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
Do you think it's inconsiderate for people to have lengthy phone calls on a bus? Vote in the poll, and add your comments below.
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64% Yes
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33.4% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz