Mr Hughes said there had been at least 10 nights over the past two months when Gisborne was at full capacity for visitor accommodation.
“In September the region's visitor spend was up 20 percent on the same month last year and I expect to see a similar strong result when the October numbers are released.”
Mr Hughes said Gisborne i-Site had noticed the summer visitor season had kicked off strongly, with Kiwis from all over the North Island visiting Tairawhiti.
“The region's accommodation providers are reporting strong forward bookings all the way through to mid/late January.
“Also our iconic experiences like the Stingrays at Dive Tatapouri, Eastwood Hill and Te Urunga-Tu Sunrise Experience up Maunga Hikurangi are reporting strong bookings for this early in the summer season.”
“Traditionally Kiwis aren't used to booking ahead while on holiday but it's going to be a busy summer across the North Island in popular holiday spots like Tairawhiti, and my advice for this year is to book ahead.”
Waikanae Beach Motel manager Jaki Furniss said it was a great time to own a motel in Gisborne.
“There are loads of people coming to Gisborne for work. Plus the other thing that's happening is we have all these people who can't get away overseas so are doing things like going around the East Coast and ticking items off their bucket list.”
Ms Furniss said she was also getting three to six phone calls a day from people looking for emergency accommodation.
“We put aside only two rooms, sometimes three, for Work and Income emergency housing.
“We want to help people out but don't want to go the whole Work and Income way. But some motels have.”
At least two motels in Gisborne are at capacity with emergency accommodation — the Endeavour Lodge Motel and the Colonial on Gladstone.
Champers Motor Lodge owner manager Debbie Boyles said she felt the answer was more rental properties to ease the surge in demand for accommodation.
Champers' 14 rooms were full with a mixture of guests — truck drivers, contractors, or couples getting away because they can't get overseas.
Ms Boyles said a few of their rooms were used as emergency accommodation paid for by the Ministry of Social Development, but that would end soon.
While Gisborne “has always been busy” it was also “unpredictable”, she said.
“Some days we get one or two queries for a place to stay and the next day I could rebook the whole place three times over.”
Senator Motel Inn, which is receiving a lot of inquiries, is also fully booked for this week even though the 16-room motel is not hosting any emergency housing at the moment.
Whispering Sands Beach Front Motel staff member Peter Martin said a lot of Kiwis were travelling this time of the year.
“They are preferring to travel in New Zealand as international travel is not an option because of Covid-19 restrictions.
“We are fully booked this week and so is every other motel in the town.
“We do not have any rooms for emergency housing but most of the motels in Gisborne are over-booked for the very same reason.
“The weather has improved today and good weather also contributes a lot to tourism.”
