Tourist-rooms counted

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 7

Tourist-rooms counted

How many hotel and motel rooms for international tourists does Christchurch have? The Government Tourist Bureau says 850, the Canterbury United Council 1000 and Christchurch’s Deputy Mayor, Cr Maurice Carter, 1214.

Cr Carter asked the question at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council’s town planning committee yesterday. The committee received a United Council report on Christchurch’s accommodation supply. It said the 1000 rooms for international tourists would be boosted by another 880 by 1990. A Government Tourist Bureau report said there were 850 rooms, said Cr Carter. He had found Sthere

were 1214, or 1270, if 56 rooms being built at the Parkroyal were counted. Another 340 were planned. Cr Carter said it came down to a definition of what was a suitable room for an international tourist.

It was important that a base figure was agreed on so that accurate surveys about the ability of Christchurch hotels and motels to meet tourist accommodation needs could be made.

“If you ask in the industry they tell you there is a surplus of high-class rooms at present,” he said.

Cr Alex Clark said this was nonsense.

“Try booking ahead for conventions. You simply can’t find the rooms,'! he said. tlk

Planned development might increase the number by 1990 but there would be a shortage during the next few years, Cr Clark said.

Cr Carter said he was anxious to find an accurate base figure because the information was needed to review aspects of the council’s District Scheme related to tourism.

The United Council report had been prepared in response to a Waimairi District Council request for information on the mix of accommodation near Christchurch Airport. “I simply want to ensure that these reports and surveys — whoever they are done by — are accurate and provide realistic figures,” Cr Carter said.