Cut-price deals for isolators
The coronavirus outbreak has triggered a new tourist accommodation market – cut-price deals for self-isolating guests.
Some accommodation businesses hit by travel bans are hoping the self-isolation restriction announced on Saturday will help them fill beds.
From yesterday morning, travellers arriving from all overseas destinations except the Pacific Islands must isolate themselves for 14 days.
North Canterbury moteliers Jan Mueller and Susi Schulze are offering a special rate for anyone self-isolating at their Oxford motels – $490 a week compared with their usual nightly charge of $135 ($945 a week).
Mueller said no-one had yet taken up the deal by yesterday afternoon. As well as arrivals from overseas needing to selfisolate, the couple is extending the deal to other visitors affected by the travel restrictions such as those with cancelled flights.
Guests unable to go outside could do their own cooking and organise food delivery from the supermarket across the road, he said. Some guests had already cancelled bookings because of the virus but it was too soon to know to what extent business would be affected, Mueller said.
For high-end tourists, Bond Estate at Yaldhurst in Christchurch has slashed its nightly rate from $1990 to $695 for selfisolating travellers.
Guests get the 2-hectare, fivebedroom estate to themselves, complete with indoor pool and tennis court.
Owner Garry Bond said business had already been quiet because of the virus and they had received two more cancellations since the new rule was announced. They usually dealt with the luxury end of the market, and attracted guests especially from Asia and the United States, he said.
‘‘We thought we could help people out and it will also help us out – I have no idea whether someone will take it up.’’
Bond said the travel bans had been very tough on the tourism industry as businesses need to keep paying staff and meet costs such as bank repayments.
He expected most self-isolating guests would be virus-free – ‘‘this isn’t quarantine’’ – but said all hotels and motels were used to thorough cleaning and disinfecting between guests.
Across New Zealand, Airbnb hosts are advertising their properties as ‘‘ideal for selfisolation’’ or similar. These include tiny homes and rural getaways.
The Ministry of Health advises anyone providing accommodation to self-isolators, including commercial premises and Airbnb, to consider the implications. ‘‘The majority of people who will need to stay at home after returning from overseas will be healthy, and if the process is adhered to, there should be no risk to those who use your services in the future.’’