Sightseeing may become cheaper as
While some tourism companies are planning to close for at least two years, others are hoping to keep going with the help of Kiwis.
Nga¯i Tahu has announced its intention to mothball its tourism businesses, which employ about 300 people – including 70 in the West Coast glacier towns.
Scenic Circle is mothballing two of its hotels in Dunedin and Franz Josef for 18 months.
Totally Tourism’s Mark Quickfall said he hoped the Government would help tourism businesses by lowering Conservation Department (DOC) concession fees. He said the company, which owns adventure and sightseeing businesses in the lower South Island, could pass that saving onto customers to attract more Kiwis.
Quickfall said pre-coronavirus, the domestic market was only 10 per cent of business but he expected that could grow once Kiwis were allowed to travel domestically.
‘‘Last year, New Zealanders spent $6.56 million on overseas travel – now that they are unable to go some of that might find its way around the country. We are looking at . . . offering attractive options to make it more affordable.’’
The company’s operations include Milford Sound cruises, scenic helicopter flights, glacier landings and heli-skiing trips. Helicopters were expensive to operate, he said.
‘‘We have always had high costs to cover . . . airport charges, DOC charges, we have to process a lot of levies. People don’t realise, particularly for heli-skiing. I would hope for some government relief in these areas.
‘‘For scenic flights on DOC land, we have to pay $25 a person, which goes up to $50 for heliskiing. We are keen to get some relief from the Government to offer