Sour Cup for some

Photo / Martin Sykes

Non-rugby inbound tour operators say the Rugby World Cup is creating havoc for their businesses.

Hotel surcharges, over-optimistic ticketing projections and a lack of interest in the sport are being blamed for a drop in regular bookings.

But the body representing the industry says operators not involved in the tournament need to grit their teeth and focus on the long-term benefits.

Rob Finlayson, business development manager at Leisure Time Tours, says his company decided not to run tours around Rugby World Cup dates. However, the decision has cost them $1 million and a 20 per cent drop in turnover.

"We're far from happy. Suppliers we've used for years told us 'we appreciate your business but [we] don't want to know you' during that period."

Some hotels had been approached by Cup organisers to include rooms in their bed-bank inventory, but overblown visitor forecasts and a lack of interest had meant a large number were returned, he said.

"They've come back to us with their tail between their legs saying 'we can take your bookings now'. They need to look at who's supported them in the years before the Cup. It's short-sighted."

C&E Tours usually operates several bus tours a week but between September 1 and the Cup final it won't run any, managing director Rainer Heidtke said. He predicts his company's annual turnover will drop by 10 per cent as a result of the Cup.

Germanic and Scandinavian clients didn't understand what rugby was all about, Heidtke said. "I tell them 'you have to pay a surcharge for rugby' and they shake their heads."

Wholesalers wouldn't accept the strict prepayment conditions and surcharges imposed by hotels, which meant C&E was unable to promote tours.

Iris Li of A China Tours said it had been a "nasty year" for her business. "Rooms which cost around $120 a night are going for over $500. Asians aren't into rugby and don't want to pay the extra surcharges."

A China Tours had only 10 groups booked at a time when it usually had 70.

Clare Callow of Agritours said she was "neutral" about the Rugby World Cup, which was causing her to redirect clients. No coaches were available and accommodation was "real tight".

"Most of our clients tend to come during off-peak seasons because it's cheaper and fits in with the dairying grass season. We've encouraged them to come at a different time but it means they might not get to see what they want to - the Waikato might look a bit brown in February."

Frank Hildebrandt, of ANZ Nature Tours, said his business would be down by 80 per cent in October.

"It's usually our peak season as the weather starts to get miserable in Europe. We don't expect to make up the shortfall in November."

Inbound Tour Operators Council president Brian Henderson recognised many members had been trading through challenging times but said disruption to normal tourism patterns caused by the Rugby World Cup would be outweighed by the positive long-term benefits for New Zealand.

The tournament would have a high profile in many key tourism markets, including Australia, UK, Japan, South America and Eastern Europe, he said.

"Outside major match weekends, particularly the quarter-finals, semifinals and final, New Zealand has plenty of capacity to host RWC fans and other visitors."

Operators might have to rearrange some itineraries but that was "not outside normal business practice".

"This is a one-off event that will raise New Zealand's international profile as a great destination," Henderson said.

Rugby World Cup communications manager Mike Jaspers said beds no longer required were progressively released last year so there was plenty of time for rebooking. Projected visitor arrivals of 85,000 remained on target.

andre.hueber@hos.co.nz