The Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ) claims the Rugby World Cup is proving to be an economic cost rather than a benefit for some New Zealand businesses, while Wellington has reported its busiest winter on record.
While the RWC is proving a great success in drawing overseas visitors to New Zealand it has stifled domestic tourism, the lifeblood of the motel sector, said MANZ chief executive Michael Baines.
A survey of MANZ members showed 48 per cent were experiencing lower bookings than usual during the World Cup period, with only 28 per cent reporting an increase in business. Almost 60 per cent of motels reported a lower number of domestic visitors during the World Cup, compared with 14 per cent who said domestic visitor numbers had risen.
“The survey shows many Kiwis are choosing to stay at home during the World Cup, with reports of floods of overseas tourists and overpriced accommodation proving a deterrent to domestic travel,” Baines said. Domestic visitors account for about 70 percent of total guest nights in New Zealand motels.
The exceptions are motels in Auckland and Wellington, which have the majority of the pool matches, including all the knockout games.
The World Cup itself has been stunning success so far, and as a showcase for New Zealand should be used to spur Kiwis to take their holidays locally, Baines said.
“The World Cup has shown just what New Zealand has to offer, and we would like to see Kiwis get out and enjoy their own country more.”
Meanwhile, Wellington has reported their busiest winter on record with a near 40 percent surge in commercial guest nights spent in the capital in August.
Commercial Accommodation Monitor figures released recently show guest nights spent in the Wellington region increased 21 per cent across the June-August quarter to 502,754. This was 18 per cent ahead of the previously busiest winter period in 2009 and represented a 55 per cent increase across the past decade.
Positively Wellington Tourism (PWT) chief executive David Perks said the Statistics New Zealand figures – which take in all types of commercial accommodation – reflected the tourism organisation’s own monitoring of its city hotel partners.
“The August growth was in large part due to an earlier start to the Brancott Estate WOW Awards Show, while the third serving of Visa Wellington On a Plate and continued growth in the Australian visitor market would also have been factors.
“This shows us not just how valuable events are to our economy, but how pivotal it is to strategically schedule events and to build a suite of festivals, shows, concerts and matches that attract different audiences that benefit a range of businesses.”
The results showed that in the face of adversity, opportunities can be found and converted, Mr Perks said.
“Nationally the tourism industry is pretty challenged at the moment and Wellington hasn’t been buffered from that; we’ve had to work really hard for this. And by ‘we’, I don’t mean Positively Wellington Tourism – I mean Wellington Inc; the city’s hoteliers, attractions, restaurateurs, airlines, transport operators, Wellington City Council’s Events team and many more have all played a hand and worked together to make this happen.”
The challenge now was to build summer visitation to the capital.
“One of the key drivers of the winter growth, was the Three Nights for Two hotel campaign so we’re bringing that back for a December/January booking period and extending the offer to other business sectors. We’ve got a great platform to work off with Unveiled at Te Papa opening in December, another sell out NZ International Sevens, and then NZ International Arts Festival running through February and March. We’re confident we can keep the city’s guest night numbers well in the black.”