RWC tourists make presence felt

With their rugby jerseys and foreign accents, it's hard to miss the colourful World Cup tourists around town - and it's the hotels, motels and campgrounds in Mount Maunganui and central Tauranga that are particularly enjoying the influx of visitors.

Several accommodation facilities have reported taking large reservations from tour parties in the last few weeks, as well as smaller bookings.

Kelsey Croft, receptionist at Kingsview Resort, said she had received recent bookings for a large number of rooms.

"We've had the French stay. They fully booked us a couple of times," she said.

City Suites manager Jan Ferguson agreed the tourist numbers have certainly been up.

"We have actually taken some groups, Irish as well as French," she said.

"We've taken some casuals as well. We've certainly got some coming through," she said.

Robyn Mangnus-Gaustad, from The Tauranga on the Waterfront, said they had also enjoyed tour parties booking their lodgings.

She said it had been a pleasant experience having a group stay with them.

"We've had a lovely large contingent from France. Lovely people, we thoroughly enjoyed them," she said.

In Mount Maunganui, too, bookings have been running hot.

Margaret Gillard, managing director at Oceanside Resort and Twin Towers, said they have seen plenty of business.

"We hosted the Samoa team. We've had Wales and France supporters that have been in a few different times and we've got a few more planned.

"It's good for everybody. At least we're getting a little bit of it even though we don't have any of the games," she said.

Debbie Martin, acting manager at Ocean Waves Motel, said she had been pleasantly surprised by the incoming tourists.

"We've been exceptionally busy in the last eight to 10 days and we're still busy.

"Yeah, we've had quite a few people in the last week and a half.

"They normally just turn up, spur-of-the-moment.

"They've come from all over the place and they're following the games," she said.

Down the coast in Papamoa too, rugby visitors are enjoying all the accommodation options on offer.

The staff at Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Resort have welcomed several groups of foreign tourists to the campground, said Lisa Hurst, reception team leader.

"We've had them in the campervans.

"We had quite a lot of French and Argentinians last week. They travel around in groups," she said.

"They're having a bit of a holiday in between the games they're going to. It's been good for the region."

And indications are the positive business will continue.

Touring World Cup parties are expected to arrive regularly throughout the remainder of the World Cup.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Glenn Ormsby said the rugby crowds making their way to the Bay were great business for hotels and motels, but were also a big plus for the region as a whole.

"We are still getting quite a few visitors coming.

"And I think you'll find it for another few weeks," he said.

"That's a real positive for us. It's also great for restaurants, for cafes and for shops.

"It's good for the economy of the region."