Keeping positive as visitor numbers dive
The absence of tourist buses has had an immediate impact on at least one business reopening in level 2 in tourist-oriented Geraldine.
Kiwi Country Geraldine visitor complex manager Noriko Cosgriff said business was reduced by about 90 per cent as they were used to about 10 buses a day in winter and double that in summer. ‘‘None are coming now. We have lots of locals supporting us, but it is hard to say if this will happen every day.’’
Cosgriff has had to let one contract staff member and three casuals go, but had retained six fulltime and parttime staff for now, due to the impacts of Covid-19. She said if the local support continued at the same rate as opening day on Thursday she hoped they could survive for longer, but if the border opened to Australia then there would be more certainty.
About half the company’s products were aimed at international visitors so Cosgriff was stocking up on more items that would appeal to the domestic market but was finding it hard to judge what was best as there was so much uncertainty.
‘‘It’s very scary . . . It’s a very hard time. We’re trying to be positive.’’
At Country Rumours, a collective which sells the works of Geraldine artists, artisans and crafts people, associate member Karen Lloyd said the shop’s clientele was about a 50/50 split between local and international customers. Lloyd said she would not know for a couple of weeks how the lack of visitors would affect business.
The shop re-opened on Thursday with shortened hours but was really busy. She said she was feeling really positive and hopeful about the future but it was a matter of waiting and seeing what happened.
Also feeling positive, was Forget Me Not owner Judith McMullen – despite the fact she was reliant on tourists. ‘‘We opened yesterday (Thursday) and it went better than I thought it would.’’
She hoped domestic visitors would continue to support her business and she was considering changing some products to that end. About 70 per cent of her customers were normally international tourists who were attracted to the souvenirs she sold as well as jewellery, scarves, candles, soap, baby gifts and kitchenware.
Go Geraldine co-ordinator Janene Adams believed the small rural town is ‘‘ahead of the game’’ and determined to ride out the impact of Covid-19. Lack of tourism would have a major impact, but Geraldine was also a popular domestic destination and would continue its long tradition of its Totally Locally promotion, just further afield, she said.
‘‘We are ahead of the game, like we always are ... We are well geared up for the domestic visitors.’’
Totally Locally is a successful initiative to encourage people to shop locally and was launched in 2015.
A new #lovegeraldinenz initiative was launched two weeks ago as well as a Loyal Locals challenge which encourages people to visit shops that are new to them and then tell their friends and write favourable comments about their products online.
South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wendy Smith said she understood that it had been quite busy for retailers re-opening this week. She hoped they could retain the local trade and encouraged people to spend locally in the absence of tourists.
‘‘Towns like Geraldine have a heavy reliance on international visitors.’’