N.Z. bookings for Brisbane disappoint

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 2

N.Z. bookings for Brisbane disappoint

By LES BLOXHAM travel editor

Brisbane has not attracted anvwhere near the number of ’ New Zealanders it had hoped it would get for the Commonwealth Games, which will begin next month. So far only 2500 people from New Zealand have booked, a far cry from the expected target of 7500.

Barely two weeks remain before it will be too late to buy advance purchase fares for flights to Brisbane in time for the opening ceremony. on September 30. There now seems little chance of the final figure exceeding 3000. compared with the 3500 New Zealanders who attended the Commonwealth Games at Edmonton in 1978. The New Zealanders’ poor response to Brisbane's call has disappointed tour companies, travel agencies, and the airlines. Air New Zealand and Qantas abandoned their plans for special flights long ago. Travellers will now be accommodated on scheduled -services, with seats to spare. Air New Zealand was prepared to run a Tasman shuttle, and Quantas was looking at providing three special Boeing 747 flights. Industry sources in Auckland believe that uncertainty over New Zealand's partici-

pation in the Games ultimately led to a lack ■of interest. Another factor was the depressed state of the travel industry in general. The threat of racial vior lence over Aboriginal land rights has also apparently dampened New Zealanders enthusiasm for the Games. Mrs Gwen Kelly, secretary of the Gold Coast Accommodation Owners’ Association, considers that to be the main cause. She said that 5500 beds had been set aside for New Zealanders 18 months ago. but there had been only 500 confirmed bookings.

In spite of the disappointing response. New Zealand represents 66 per cent of Brisbane’s total overseas sales for the Games, an indication that bookings from other countries are also below expectations. It is believed that Games officials are particularly disappointed over the lack of interest from Canadian and British supporters. However, total ticket sales for the Games have now exceeded $5 million. The budget target of $6 million seems certain to be achieved well before the opening in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stadium on September 30. Games officials now expect total ticket’ sales to reach a record $8 million.