Tourists alter plans after earthquakes
Retailers and accommodation providers in South Canterbury and North Otago have noticed an increase in visitors since Kaikoura’s magnitude-7.8 quake on November 14, as tourists look to make changes to their travel plans.
Timaru businesses have reported a ‘‘significant change’’ in the number of accommodation inquiries and South Canterbury tourism activity bookings, Timaru i-SITE sales and promotion manager Courtney Molloy said.
‘‘The biggest question lately is ‘where are they going to go’ instead of Kaikoura, before flying home from Christchurch.’’
Molloy said there had also been a few people requesting refunds for KiwiRail ventures north to Kaikoura.
International tourists often spent the tail end of their journey in Kaikoura, before departing from Christchurch airport, she said. Now staff were directing tourists, with no plans, inland to Geraldine and Methven.
Countdown Timaru, Browne St, store manager Amrit Singh said the previous week had been busier than usual.
‘‘The earthquake did bring some sales in,’’ Singh said.
Oamaru Bed and Breakfast owner and Oamaru Retailers’ Committee chairman Rob McTague said he had noticed an increase in inquiries directly related to the Kaikoura highway closing.
‘‘I have noticed people are booking through here. I have had two people saying they were going to Kaikoura, but want to know ‘what are the quakes like in Oamaru?’ ’’
Oamaru’s Bella Vista owner Ole Wallis said it was ‘‘hard to say’’ if the Kaikoura quakes had affected business as he had encountered a mixture of cancellations and bookings in the past week.
Brydone Hotel Oamaru front office manager Kate Oakley said an extra 16 rooms had been booked because of Kaikoura-bound tourists being diverted.
Waitaki Tourism Association chairperson James Glucksman said he had noticed an increase in business at his own hotel, Peny-bryn Lodge, which was directly related to the earthquakes.
‘‘What I have seen is travel agents asking if there is any space for a couple of extras who cannot go to Kaikoura.’’