‘Vital' for S.I. to regain Australian tourists

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 22

‘Vital' for S.I. to regain Australian tourists

The South Island must “sell” its attractions more vigorously if it is to regain its lost share of the Australian tourist market, according to industry sources in Christchurch. Australians are bj' far tiie largest group of overseas visitors to New Zealand, although the percentage has been declining since 1976. In the year ended May, 19S0, 10.7 per cent fewer Australians visited New Zealand on holiday than the previous year, according to Tourist and Publicity Department statistics. The South Island is being particularly hard hit, according to the general manager of Guthreys New Zealand Tours, Ltd (Mr B. J. Doody). He said Australian tourists stayed an average of 16 nights in New Zealand, and up to two-thirds of their holiday was spent in the South Island. “Our tourist infrastruc-

ture is built up to service. 12 to 14 day movements through the "country,” he said. '. Australian tourists were being replaced by Americans. Canadians, and Japanese. who spent less time — and money — and often did not bother visiting the South Island. Many arrived in Auckland tor a two or threedav holiday, and did not have time to venture south, Mr Doody said. He estimated that the total number of Australians going overseas for holidays had risen between’ 15 per cent and 20 per cent, but they were being attracted to destinations other than New Zealand. Among reasons suggested for the loss was the rise in accommodation and transport costs in New Zealand. During the “boom” years of the early 19705, tourists flocked to New Zealand because it offered

cheap holidays : compared with several overseas countries. The advent of widebodied jets had made it quicker and cheaper to fly to distant holiday spots. “Since . 1973, the cost of accommodation and transport had soared in New Zealand and Australians could now fly to the United States or Asia at comparable prices,” said Mr Doody. “To many Australians. New Zealand is like going to another state,” he said. The Christchurch district manager of the Government Tourist Bureau (Mr T. J. Mains) suggested that New Zealand no longer offered the “element of adventure” desired by many Australians. They were being drawn to the “exotic” destinations. Mr Doody said that labour costs in the accommodation industry had apparently outstripped oil costs in the transport in-

dus try, arid that• Christchurch had . the J second highest rate -b(» hotel price increases in New Zealand (second to Auckland). A survey by “The Press” of 10 Christdiurch hotels shows that the average price for double and single rooms has almost doubled since 1976. In 1976 the average price for a double room was $25 a night, now it is $45. Single rooms have increased an average of $l9 a nieht — from $l7 to $36. The executive officer of the Canterbury branch of. the Hotel Association (Mr W. R. Broom) said the increases were required to keep pace with wages, power, food costs, and rates. The survey indicated that increases in hotel prices had kept relatively close to the rate of inflation over the same period.