Understanding approach urged in tourism sector
‘‘We don’t know anything about the situation in Southland yet.’’ Bobbi Brown Great South
Great South and the Southland Chamber of Commerce have extended their support to tourism operators in the region who may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Travel restrictions imposed by the Chinese government are likely to affect inbound bookings by Chinese travellers, Great South said in a newsletter to tourism businesses.
Great South’s general manager for tourism and events, Bobbi Brown, said the newsletter – which included links to the Southern District Health Board’s coronavirus page – was sent to keep businesses informed.
‘‘It’s quite a significant concern around the world. We thought it was important that our operators have information,’’ Brown said.
The acceleration of the outbreak coincided with Lunar New Year celebrations which were traditionally a busy time for Chinese travellers.
Brown said it was too early to gauge exactly how the outbreak would affect tourism businesses in the region. ‘‘We don’t know anything about the situation in Southland yet,’’ she said.
Great South invited businesses that have had cancellations because of virus concerns or travel restrictions to contact the regional tourism organisation for support.
The newsletter follows a statement made by Tourism New Zealand chief executive Stephen England-Hall, who encouraged the industry to liaise with Chinese partners and travel sellers on how the travel restrictions may affect arrivals.
‘‘The way New Zealand manages any cancellations will be extremely important . . . Offering our welcome for future travel will set us apart and help us secure future business,’’ EnglandHall said.
Brown agreed: ‘‘We have to maintain a welcoming and understanding approach.’’
Brown said that while the situation had been managed well in New Zealand so far, it was important that those within the tourism industry continued communicating.
Great South staff were keeping in contact with regional tourism networks across the country to ensure they kept up to date with the latest developments.