Campaign aims to keep tourism close to home
Tourism in Canterbury is set to get a boost from a new campaign to bring Kiwis to the region — and Cantabrians are being urged to explore their own backyard.
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of thousands of overseas holidays, tourism operators hope New Zealanders will spend their dollars seeing the sights of their own country.
A major drive led by Tourism New Zealand to encourage Kiwis to travel domestically could be rolled out as early as next week, and economic development agency ChristchurchNZ is working with regional partners to bring people to Canterbury.
Its bosses will speak with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and the chief executive of Tourism New Zealand tomorrow to discuss how their efforts might dovetail with a national tourism plan.
While details of Canterbury’s campaign, called Explore CHC, are yet to be unveiled, there is already a big push to get people to holiday and spend locally.
ChristchurchNZ is helping businesses that normally cater for international tourists to instead attract Kiwis. Thirtyfive operators have signed up to a programme giving them $2000 of support for marketing, planning and advice to help their businesses focus on domestic travellers; another 50 have shown interest.
With travel restrictions being loosened as the country moves to alert level 2 today, an online marketing campaign aims to encourage people across Christchurch, Canterbury and the South Island to spend their money and enjoy ‘‘staycations’’.
‘‘We know that Canterbury residents spend $6 offshore for every $1 they spend on a tourism attraction in New Zealand,’’ ChristchurchNZ general manager of destination
Meth a grand a gram
Methamphetamine prices have doubled in parts of the South Island as a result of coronavirus restrictions, with addicts saying they are paying more than $1000 a gram. Stocks in Christchurch, where police last week seized 3 kilos of meth, are believed to be very low. Those who are able to source the drug have reported the quality is lower, with dealers diluting it with other substances to make it go further and increase their profit. National Drug Intelligence Bureau manager Blair Macdonald said Covid-19 restrictions had disrupted international supply chains, and made it hard for organised crime groups to move drugs around New Zealand, particularly to the South Island.
$7000 of cigarettes stolen
Two teenagers have been arrested after an aggravated robbery at a Christchurch dairy, where they allegedly stole about $7000 of cigarettes. Worcester Discounter employee Yadwander Singh said he was filling the drinks fridge and freezer in the store about 6.30pm on Monday when two teenagers, one armed with a hammer, entered the store. Singh said one of the robbers hit him on the head lightly with the hammer and asked for money. ‘‘I said ‘OK I will give it to you, please don’t hit me’, and they take me to get the cash. I’m trying to open the machine but I put the wrong password in because we had a lot of cash at that time.’’ Singh then ran out through the back door. and attraction Loren Heaphy said.
‘‘We’re hoping that by supporting the tourism industry ... to suit a domestic audience we’re able to capture a little bit more of that domestic spend.’’
Among those signed up to the programme is the Pavilions Hotel on Christchurch’s Papanui Rd, owned for 28 years by the Horncastle family. After a ‘‘significant’’ downturn from the lockdown, the easing of restrictions has had bookings coming in from across the country.
Owner and general manager Debbie Horncastle said: ‘‘Any kind of marketing to us at the moment, and branding to get our name out there, is exactly what we need. We just need to get bookings in.’’
ChristchurchNZ is also working to ensure events — a key driver of domestic visitors — remain on the calendar. There are hopes Christchurch will still host the Women’s Cricket World Cup final in January, and ChristchurchNZ is working with the buskers festival Bread & Circus on what an event with local performers would look like.
Tourism is a major pillar in Canterbury’s economy, producing $4.9 billion of its $30b gross domestic product.
Deep clean in playgrounds
Playgrounds will be as clean as they’ve ever been when alert level 2 kicks in. Yet there’s no guarantee they’ll be Covid-19 free and parents are being asked to keep their distance and keep grubby hands germ free. Christchurch City Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said all of its playground equipment and surfaces had been cleaned in preparation for today’s reopening. He said park rangers would be at some of the more popular playgrounds such as Margaret Mahy and Scarborough, particularly over the weekend, to ensure no overcrowding occurs. He said people were asked to bring their own hand sanitiser to use before and after they attend a playground.