Franz Josef trips resume
Nga¯i Tahu Tourism will resume guided tours of Franz Josef Glacier in time for the school holidays, much to the relief of struggling local businesses.
Ten of the company’s attractions were mothballed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic leading to more than 300 staff redundancies.
Glacier heli-hikes run by The Helicopter Line and Franz Josef Glacier Guides will restart on July 4, with four guides being re-employed, and there are hopes it will boost dismal occupancy rates at local hotels and motels.
Scenic Hotel Group general manager Brendan Taylor said its 130 room Franz Josef hotel was lucky to fill between three and seven rooms a night, and the closure of the guiding operation and the town’s Nga¯i Tahuowned hot pools had not helped.
Glen Fern Villas manager Monique Kerr said the return of glacier heli-hikes would be good for the struggling town. ‘‘People come here for that bucket list item and them (Nga¯i Tahu) pulling out was a big blow to all the businesses.’’
She said a lot of travellers had taken advantage of special rates on campervans. ‘‘It’s wonderful they are getting out and seeing the country, but it’s not much help for accommodation providers.’’
Nga¯i Tahu Holdings chief executive Mike Pohio said it had been a difficult decision to temporarily close most of its tourism businesses and it was reassessing things as conditions changed.
Hukafalls Jet in Taupo¯ reopened in late May and Queenstown’s Shotover Jet will do so in July, but the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools remain closed at this stage.
Walking access onto the glacier was closed in 2012 and since then visitors have relied on helicopter transport for an on-ice experience.
The Helicopter Line last year took more than 7000 people heli-hiking on the glacier, and chief executive Mark Quickfall said they were also introducing a shorter less physical tour option for visitors.
Tourism West Coast is running major campaigns to boost visitors, and regional manager Jim Little said numbers for Queen’s Birthday Weekend were up 94 per cent on last year.
While weekday business was flat, it was busy at weekends.
West Coast tourism operators are among more than 300 applying for a slice of the Government’s $400m tourism rescue package, which will target key attractions deemed too important to fail.
n the year to the end of March, total tourism spending for the West Coast was worth $508 million.