NZ Re-Open: How Soon Back to "Normal"?

[TLCOhio]

From this top newspaper in New Zealand, they have this headline today: “International tourism is coming back, but a return to 4 million visitors is years away, and some say that's a good thing” looking at their re-opening after their long, long shut-down  for tourism. 

 

Here some of their story highlights: “No one is pretending there will be a swift return to the 3.9 million annual international arrivals pre-pandemic, and some think that is no bad thing, including Tourism Minister Stuart Nash, who says we cannot afford to fall back into our old ways.  While Australians will skip across the Tasman to visit friends and family and ski over winter, the reality is that we won't see many long-haul US and European travellers until summer, says Tourism New Zealand chief executive Rene de Monchy.  'It gives the industry a runway to scale up, but it will be a challenge ... how many rooms can I open or how many boat trips can I do will be a bit dictated by the workforce.'  After the border opening announcement, online searches for international flights to New Zealand jumped 41 per cent, more than half of them Australians, and there is no guarantee all those searches will translate into bums on seats.  Tourism Export council chief executive Lynda Keene says overseas agents are cautious about booking New Zealand this coming summer because of uncertainty over the border and whether it will remain open, but bookings for the following summer are strong.  'We’re not going to open the door when we reach October 1, and boom we’re back, it’s going to be a slow rebuilding of the market ... if we can get back to pre-Covid numbers by 2025, 2026, that would-be really encouraging.'  One of the handbrakes on achieving that is China, which was our second-largest market after Australia, and many of the inbound tour operators who serviced it have disappeared.”

 

How will this NZ re-opening work, last, etc.? Good luck for those visiting NZ.

 

Full story at:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/128130596/international-tourism-is-coming-back-but-a-return-to-4-million-visitors-is-years-away-and-some-say-thats-a-good-thing

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia.  This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc:  Live/blog;

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

[onlyslightlymad]

Not sure what your point is, Terry.  The border reopening is set to happen over stages and the future is uncertain.  Do keep in mind that NZ is yet to relax the maritime border order so no cruise ships are allowed here at the moment.  I would imagine that announcements regarding that are forthcoming but I can't see it happening before October.  I think anyone planning overseas travel to any country needs to accept that disruptions are possible and to have a back up plan.  I have a cruise booked in December and I just don't know if it's going to happen or not.

As to "normal", at the moment this is normal.  Normal in the future will likely be different but I can't see a return to the past.

Edited March 26, 2022 by onlyslightlymad

[lissie]

Most long-haul tourists not come to NZ during the winter (unless they are skiing) - they also don't come at short-notice - so no serious numbers until after October is logical. AirNZ seems keen - launching their non-stop NYC-AKL route in September. 

 

Has anywhere else closed a border after opening in the last 12 months? Nope.  Obvoiusly if there is a new  nasty variant or a new disease then all bets are off - but otherwise I'm confident the border will remain. 

 

As to normal?  Downtowns are more deserted than they were in all but the most extreme lockdowns - but presumably that will wear off over the next month or 2. 

 

I can't see us dropping  vaccine and testing  requirements for international arrivals for years. I can't see us dropping inside mask use for months. 

[nermal9900]

mostly from what I know the ex Australia to NZ return cruise market is those who either want to go but without the fly/drive hassles and have to find a hotel/motel every few days but you need two weeks to do both islands in or the too old for Contiki and Top Deck Bus tour market who want to go but are time limited.I missed out in 2020 and 2021 so at this stage now thinking 2023 to 2025 if the right cruise and the right timing can be found.was supposed to be going this October but bailed out choosing a domestic cruise in late november to fill the gaps.

[Haoie]

Vaccine mandates/passes are being dropped shortly, which is a good sign.