Customer void hurting Auckland operators
A SMALL Auckland tour operator trading at just 5% of what they normally would says tourism in the country’s most populous city has been ‘‘decimated’’.
FlexitoursNZ general manager and director Philippa Dean said tourism hot spots such as Queenstown and Rotorua had received the most support since New Zealand shut its borders to international tourists, but it was regions such as Auckland that were hardest hit.
Ms Dean had owned the upmarket tour group company for six years.
It specialised in tours to Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves and surrounding areas.
‘‘Whilst Kiwis are travelling around, Aucklanders are supporting the whole of New Zealand. The rest of New Zealand is not supporting Auckland,’’ Ms Dean said.
Auckland tourism businesses were on the brink of collapse.
‘‘Auckland tourism is totally decimated, except for one or two attractions that appeal to Kiwis, that traditionally had a New Zealand following.’’
FlexitoursNZ has conducted just 12 tours since Alert Level 3 restrictions were lifted in August. That is 168 fewer than it would usually do in a typical twomonth period.
The numbers on those tours were also half that of typical capacity.
The business usually turns over between $2.5 million and $3 million each year. Since April, it has turned over $65,000, down from $1.41 million in the corresponding period last year.
She said the business was stuck between a rock and hard place.
New Zealanders did not want to book tours, it cannot get help from the bank or help from the Government as it was not considered a ‘‘strategic asset’’ and there was no sign of when the country would open up to inbound tourism.
Between the first nationwide and second lockdown in Auckland, the business was able to grow to trade to about 15% of its previous levels.
Ms Dean had been hopeful it could have scaled that up to 20%, but had not been able to do so.
She put it down to New Zealanders not being interested in domestic tours.
She said she was not alone in her struggles.
This was a reality almost every Auckland tourism operator was grappling with, even large operators such as the Sky Tower.
‘‘Auckland tourism operators are probably some of the worst hit in the country. A lot aren’t even open. They’re hibernating.
‘‘Everybody in my branch of tourism is struggling. The only people hit harder than us are cruise ships and long tour groups,’’ she said.
Her message to New Zealanders: ‘‘Book local. Get a quote from your information centre, have a look at a tour and see if it can take you places you haven’t been before.
‘‘Look at travelling New Zealand from a different angle — don’t just hop into your car and go to the places you’ve been before.’’
Tourism Industry Aotearoa is lobbying for bridging funding for tourism operators facing a customer void due to Covid19. — The New Zealand Herald