Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand’s tourism industry is feeling the impacts of the Middle East conflict, with cost of living, to the cost of travel itself skyrocketing, Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s chief executive Rebecca Ingram says. Quin Tauetau
New Zealand’s tourism industry is feeling the impacts of the Middle East conflict, with businesses experiencing “a sharp increase in business costs“, an industry leader says.
The industry was said to be getting its mojo back in the past 18 months, however the global fuel crisis is making the comeback difficult – from the increases in cost of living, to the cost of travel itself.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s chief executive Rebecca Ingram told Midday Report the situation was not ideal, but the industry was used to disruption.
“Whether its earthquakes volcanos that change flight paths, and in this case we’ve got conflict, and it’s times like this we really rally together, we hustle internationally to make sure we stay connected…”
“Many businesses are experiences the sharp increase in business costs as a result of the leap in fuel prices.
“The most obvious price most people think about is jet fuel, but then there’s the jet boats, the lawn mowers that are need to mow all the beautiful lawns and holiday parks and botanic gardens, transport providers, so those costs are feeling pretty squeezy for many.”
Ingram said in a recent survey Tourism Industry Aotearoa, 70 percent of businesses reported experiencing little to no impact.
“What we can see at the initial survey results is that many New Zealanders will have booked and paid for their holidays, but there are some signal some businesses are experiencing cancellations – so 70 percent are saying there is no impact or a small decrease.”
Ingram said it was a “bit of a blessing” that the disruption was happening at the end of the summer season.
But she said one in nine Kiwis had a job in tourism, and the industry would be keeping a “very close eye on the situation in Iran and the disruption that might be possible for the next few months”.
“We will be wanting to work with the government and tourism New Zealand in particular to look at how we can ensure a successful summer 26/27.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
