Tourist numbers expected to return

So far, this year has not been without its challenges for Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt.

The man tasked with leading Queenstown's tourism team and encouraging visitors to Queenstown, spent the first year of his tenure learning the ropes - and the first six months of his second year dealing with the fallout from the Christchurch and Japan earthquakes.

In some areas, the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch had seen positive effects in Queenstown. Domestic nights for March were up, and the conference and incentive market was strong due to the unavailability of venues in Christchurch, the most recent example of which being the Motel Association of New Zealand.

However, the hotel sector in the resort had taken a hit from the event, as well as the Japan earthquake, which was a game changer.

"We've had some [difficulties]. The main one - which is relatively significant for a place like Queenstown - is the short-term impact in the Asia-Japan market.

"International arrival figures into New Zealand from the Japan and Korea markets are fifth and sixth respectively.

"Combined, it's probably New Zealand's fourth-biggest market.

"Right now, those arrivals are down 50%."

However, the situation would probably start to right itself towards the end of the year, helped by Air New Zealand's introduction of five direct "jumbo jet" flights per week from Tokyo to Auckland from December.

"That will see a 20% increase in seats, even over pre-earthquake figures. They [the passengers] will come as far as Auckland and we would be hoping to see some of them down here."

Mr Everitt said there had also been a change in the "fundamental, core pattern" of Asian visitors to the South Island, who traditionally spent two nights in Christchurch and two in the Southern Lakes.

"Because there is less hotel accommodation in Christchurch, most itineraries have three nights in Queenstown now.

"We're not seeing the benefit of that in town, because numbers are down, but once the numbers come back again, potentially there's a 50% increase in business available to us.

"When we have big changes happening over a short period of time, it takes a while to adjust, but we have to hang in there."

Bookings in the motel sector for July were "encouraging" and this winter would see a 30% increase in direct flights from Australia.

Airlines had reported those flights were "well loaded, so that's a good sign".

"We will be excited when we get some white stuff - what gives us a push is to beam out those images around the world.

"As always, we're in God's hands with that ... July is really the peak season and Winter Festival we advertise as the start of winter, and that's not until the end of June."

In August, the 2011 Winter Games NZ would be held for the second time, which was "enormous" in terms of international exposure.

While the major benefit for the region was publicity - with an estimated television viewing audience of 500 million world-wide - Mr Everitt expected "payback" from the inaugural event, held in 2009, would not be far away.

There would be no down-time between the end of WGNZ and the start of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with Queenstown already looking "nice" in September with advanced bookings.

"We have four teams training here and the effect from Christchurch means England will be in Otago for September.

"English supporters will be in the region for a month and, of all the teams, England is the one to get ... it will be like having the Lions in the region for a month."

The hard work would begin in October when RWC action moved to the North Island, with effort required to encourage visitors to "pop down here".

Mr Everitt is now in Japan for Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand's Kiwilink Japan/Korea, postponed twice due to earthquakes, where he will be meeting travel agents in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul, spreading the "come to Queenstown" message.

While the past six months had seen their fair share of challenges, Mr Everitt was no stranger to testing times.

"I've worked in tourism in a number of businesses around the world - I was in Fiji during the Samoan tsunami and I was in Singapore during SARS. "Things happen and you deal with it.

"That's the great thing about being in Queenstown - the sophistication of the DQ members and the businesses here. This is as good as it gets, so that really helps."

Source = odt.co.nz