Kiwis are predicted to stay home rather than head overseas for their holidays due to the global recession - sounds reasonable to us. However, it is also inferred that another reason for Kiwis to stay at home is to take advantage of "cheaper baches" available to rent. Really!?!
Motel operators would have been somewhat bemused with the elevation of domestic residences offered on the commercial market by non-compliant private entities. (more on this issue later!)
The story gets worse. Tourism Industry Association (TIA) chief executive Tim Cossa comments on the broader tourism industry and "recommends people approach operators directly for discounts and special offers. "I'm convinced there will be some good deals this summer"
Hmmm, I wonder if TIA members will be happy with a clarion call from their boss for the public to demand discounts and special offers!
The tourism industry deserves better than this...
Sunday Star Times
23 November 2008
Kiwi holidaymakers are likely to reap bargains this summer as the tourist industry turns to the domestic market to drum up business and cheaper baches are made available to rent.
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossa said the global recession meant fewer international visitors to New Zealand and Kiwis were more likely to stay closer to home.
Cossa said summer beach destination bookings were holding up but word from the association's 2000 members, including accommodation, attraction and transport operators, suggested most people were delaying their decision on where to go. Cossa recommends people approach operators directly for discounts and special offers. "I'm convinced there will be some good deals this summer," he said.
Peter Blackwell, AA Tourism general manager, told the Sunday Star-Times he expected some "eye-opening behaviour" from operators this summer. "I believe a lot have built their businesses based on foreign visitors." Many would have to change their attitude towards Kiwi tourists who would become the key to their future. He said New Zealanders were holding out for deals but he urged those planning a camping or holiday park getaway to book now or risk missing out. The top end of the market, such as beachside apartment owners, would be more likely to feel the pinch.
In the Coromandel, Gordon Turner, the principal of First National Whangamata, said this summer for the first time he could remember beach house supply far exceeded demand. But visitor numbers were expected to be on a par with other years. "The Thames Coromandel District Council rates have gone up so much, more bach owners are renting their properties during the peak season." Rental rates were down by about 10%. There was also a glut of baches that slept five or fewer. "More people are wanting to sleep eight to 10." This was possibly because families, looking to spread the cost of a holiday, were joining forces. Turner said he had 30 properties available for the summer holidays.
The trend in the Bay of Islands is the same. Days in the Bay spokeswoman Marilyn Jones said she had noticed more cases of house owners giving up their properties to rent out. "We do have more properties on the books than we did last year." Demand between Christmas and January 10 was still very high, but there were vacancies on either side of those dates, she said. Demand for bigger houses was also high: "We have two or three families wanting to holiday together."
It was similar in the South Island's Golden Bay. Golden Bay Homes owner Fran O'Connell said she had listed more properties during the past year. Bookings for the summer were on a par with other years but there had been fewer forward bookings, she said. "I think we will really suffer during February and March."
Most of this summer's holidaymakers were from the South Island, she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4770178a11.html
